Denis Viger
Encyclopedia
Denis Viger was a carpenter, businessman and political figure in Lower Canada
.
He was born in Montreal
in 1741, the son of a shoemaker. He worked as a carpenter and also carved wooden objects for the church at Saint-Denis
. In 1772, he married Périne-Charles, the daughter of François-Pierre Cherrier
, a notary. Viger then worked for the Hôtel-Dieu in Montreal. He also was involved in the sale and export of potash
. In 1796, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
in Montreal East as a supporter of the parti canadien
.
He died at Montreal in 1805.
His son Denis-Benjamin
later played an important role in the politics of the province. His nephew, Jacques Viger
, was the first mayor of Montreal and his nephew Louis-Michel Viger
became a lawyer and also served in the legislative assembly.
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
.
He was born in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in 1741, the son of a shoemaker. He worked as a carpenter and also carved wooden objects for the church at Saint-Denis
Saint-Denis, Quebec
Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu is a municipality in the southwestern part of the Province of Quebec, Canada on the Richelieu River in the Regional County Municipality of La Vallée-du-Richelieu...
. In 1772, he married Périne-Charles, the daughter of François-Pierre Cherrier
François-Pierre Cherrier
François-Pierre Cherrier was a French-born merchant and notary in Lower Canada.He was born in Savigné-l’Évêque in Sarthe, the son of François Cherrier and Périnne Isambart, and came to Saint-Antoine-de-Longueuil in New France, where his uncle was parish priest, in 1736. Cherrier opened a store...
, a notary. Viger then worked for the Hôtel-Dieu in Montreal. He also was involved in the sale and export of potash
Potash
Potash is the common name for various mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in water-soluble form. In some rare cases, potash can be formed with traces of organic materials such as plant remains, and this was the major historical source for it before the industrial era...
. In 1796, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada was the lower house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The legislative assembly was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791...
in Montreal East as a supporter of the parti canadien
Parti canadien
The Parti canadien or Parti patriote was a political party in what is now Quebec founded by members of the liberal elite of Lower Canada at the beginning of the 19th century...
.
He died at Montreal in 1805.
His son Denis-Benjamin
Denis-Benjamin Viger
Denis-Benjamin Viger was a 19th century Lower Canadian politician, lawyer, businessman, and Patriote movement member.Viger was part of the militia in the early 19th century and then a captain in the War of 1812...
later played an important role in the politics of the province. His nephew, Jacques Viger
Jacques Viger
Jacques Viger was an antiquarian, archaeologist, and the first mayor of the Canadian city of Montreal, Quebec.- Biography :...
, was the first mayor of Montreal and his nephew Louis-Michel Viger
Louis-Michel Viger
Louis-Michel Viger was a Quebec lawyer, businessman, seigneur and political figure.He was born in Montreal in 1785 and studied at the Collège Saint-Raphaël at the same time as his cousin, Louis-Joseph Papineau. He articled in law with his cousin, Denis-Benjamin Viger, was admitted to the bar in...
became a lawyer and also served in the legislative assembly.