Ernest Pacaud
Encyclopedia
Ernest Pacaud was a Quebec
lawyer and journalist.
He was born Philippe-Olivier Pacaud in Trois-Rivières
, Canada East
in 1850, the son of Philippe-Napoléon Pacaud
. He attended school in Trois-Rivières and then studied at the Séminaire de Nicolet. Pacaud articled in law with his uncle Édouard-Louis Pacaud
, was called to the bar in 1872 and set up practice in Arthabaska. He joined the local militia during the Fenian raids
.
Pacaud is credited with convincing Wilfrid Laurier
to enter politics. Pacaud himself ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Quebec assembly in an 1874 by-election. He married Marie-Louise, the daughter of Joseph-Édouard Turcotte
, in 1876. In 1877, he founded Le Journal d'Arthabaska. In 1878, he was named protonotary in the Quebec Superior Court
, clerk for the Circuit Court and crown clerk for the Trois-Rivières district. When the Conservatives came to power the following year, he was relieved of these appointments and he returned to the practice of law in Trois-Rivières. He became editor of a local newspaper, La Concorde.
In 1880, he helped found the Liberal newspaper L'Électeur at Quebec City
and became its editor and later its owner. He ran unsuccessfully in Bellechasse for a seat in the House of Commons in 1882. In 1886, he played an important part in the election victory of the Parti National of Honoré Mercier
. In December 1896, L'Électeur became Le Soleil
when the Quebec Catholic bishops forbade the reading of Pacaud's newspaper after he had published several editorials critical of the church. In 1903, Pacaud fell seriously ill and the Compagnie de Publication Le Soleil was formed to take over the operation of the paper.
He died at Quebec City in 1904.
His brother Gaspard
was a newspaper editor and also served in the Ontario legislative assembly. His son Lucien Turcotte
later served in the Canadian House of Commons.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
lawyer and journalist.
He was born Philippe-Olivier Pacaud in Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières, Quebec
Trois-Rivières is a city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada, located at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice and Saint Lawrence Rivers. It is situated in the Mauricie administrative region, on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River across from the city of Bécancour...
, Canada East
Canada East
Canada East was the eastern portion of the United Province of Canada. It consisted of the southern portion of the modern-day Canadian Province of Quebec, and was primarily a French-speaking region....
in 1850, the son of Philippe-Napoléon Pacaud
Philippe-Napoléon Pacaud
Philippe-Napoléon Pacaud was a Quebec notary and Patriote.He was born in Quebec City in 1812, the son of Joseph Pacaud. He studied at the Séminaire de Nicolet, articled as a notary with Louis Panet and qualified to practice in 1833. He set up practice at Saint-Hyacinthe...
. He attended school in Trois-Rivières and then studied at the Séminaire de Nicolet. Pacaud articled in law with his uncle Édouard-Louis Pacaud
Édouard-Louis Pacaud
Édouard-Louis Pacaud was a Quebec lawyer and political figure. He represented Kennebec division in the Legislative Council of Quebec from 1887 to 1889....
, was called to the bar in 1872 and set up practice in Arthabaska. He joined the local militia during the Fenian raids
Fenian raids
Between 1866 and 1871, the Fenian raids of the Fenian Brotherhood who were based in the United States; on British army forts, customs posts and other targets in Canada, were fought to bring pressure on Britain to withdraw from Ireland. They divided many Catholic Irish-Canadians, many of whom were...
.
Pacaud is credited with convincing Wilfrid Laurier
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
to enter politics. Pacaud himself ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Quebec assembly in an 1874 by-election. He married Marie-Louise, the daughter of Joseph-Édouard Turcotte
Joseph-Édouard Turcotte
Joseph-Édouard Turcotte was a lawyer and political figure in Canada East.He was born in Gentilly, Lower Canada in 1808. He studied at the Séminaire de Nicolet. In 1831, he lost his right arm in an accident. Deciding not to pursue a future in the priesthood, he studied law with Elzéar Bédard and...
, in 1876. In 1877, he founded Le Journal d'Arthabaska. In 1878, he was named protonotary in the Quebec Superior Court
Quebec Superior Court
Quebec Superior Court is the highest trial Court in the Province of Quebec, Canada. It consists of 144 judges who are appointed by the federal government.Chief Justices : [partial listing]* Edward Bowen...
, clerk for the Circuit Court and crown clerk for the Trois-Rivières district. When the Conservatives came to power the following year, he was relieved of these appointments and he returned to the practice of law in Trois-Rivières. He became editor of a local newspaper, La Concorde.
In 1880, he helped found the Liberal newspaper L'Électeur at Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
and became its editor and later its owner. He ran unsuccessfully in Bellechasse for a seat in the House of Commons in 1882. In 1886, he played an important part in the election victory of the Parti National of Honoré Mercier
Honoré Mercier
Honoré Mercier was a lawyer, journalist and politician in Quebec, Canada. He was the ninth Premier of Quebec from January 27, 1887 to December 21, 1891, as leader of the Parti National or Quebec Liberal Party ....
. In December 1896, L'Électeur became Le Soleil
Le Soleil
Le Soleil is a French-language daily newspaper in Quebec City, Quebec. It was founded on December 28, 1896 and is published in compact format since April 2006...
when the Quebec Catholic bishops forbade the reading of Pacaud's newspaper after he had published several editorials critical of the church. In 1903, Pacaud fell seriously ill and the Compagnie de Publication Le Soleil was formed to take over the operation of the paper.
He died at Quebec City in 1904.
His brother Gaspard
Gaspard Pacaud
Gaspard Pacaud was an Ontario journalist and political figure. He represented Essex North in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1886 to 1890 as a Liberal member....
was a newspaper editor and also served in the Ontario legislative assembly. His son Lucien Turcotte
Lucien Turcotte Pacaud
Lucien Turcotte Pacaud was a Quebec lawyer and political figure. He represented Mégantic in the Canadian House of Commons from 1911 to 1922 as a Liberal member....
later served in the Canadian House of Commons.