Francis Cassidy
Encyclopedia
Francis Cassidy QC was a Canadian lawyer and politician, the Mayor of Montreal, Quebec for three months in 1873, until his term was cut short by death.
Cassidy was born at Saint-Jacques-de-l’Achigan
, in what is today Quebec's Montcalm Regional County Municipality, Quebec
. Despite spending childhood in a poor family, he attended Collège de l’Assomption with the support of Abbé Étienne Normandin. He began legal studies in Montreal, formally becoming a lawyer on 18 August 1848. After developing a distinguished legal career, he was designated Queen's Counsel
on 5 August 1863.
He was a founder of the Institut canadien de Montréal
and served as its president between 1849 and 1850 and again between 1857 and 1858. From 1871 to 1873, he served as a Conservative member of Provincial Montreal West
riding during the first portion of the 2nd Legislative Assembly of Quebec
.
Just months after becoming Montreal's uncontested mayor in February 1873, Cassidy died in office that June. He never married.
Les archives de Radio-Canada: Francis Cassidy, maire de Montréal (2 November 1948)
Cassidy was born at Saint-Jacques-de-l’Achigan
Saint-Jacques, Quebec
Saint-Jacques is a municipality in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada, part of the Montcalm Regional County Municipality.-Demographics:Population:* Population in 2006: 3706 * Population in 2001: 3692...
, in what is today Quebec's Montcalm Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Montcalm Regional County Municipality, Quebec
300px|rightMontcalm is a regional county municipality in the Canadian province of Quebec. Its seat is Sainte-Julienne. The population of the MRC according to the 2006 Census is 42,558-Municipalities:* Saint-Calixte* Saint-Esprit* Saint-Jacques...
. Despite spending childhood in a poor family, he attended Collège de l’Assomption with the support of Abbé Étienne Normandin. He began legal studies in Montreal, formally becoming a lawyer on 18 August 1848. After developing a distinguished legal career, he was designated Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
on 5 August 1863.
He was a founder of the Institut canadien de Montréal
Institut canadien de Montréal
The Institut canadien de Montréal was founded on 17 December 1844, by a group of 200 young liberal professionals in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Institute was a public library and debating room for the literary and scientific society, which would later come into conflict with the Roman Catholic...
and served as its president between 1849 and 1850 and again between 1857 and 1858. From 1871 to 1873, he served as a Conservative member of Provincial Montreal West
Westmount (provincial electoral district)
Westmount was a provincial electoral district located in the province of Quebec, Canada. Located in the Montreal region, Westmount was formed in 1912. In 1994, it became part of Westmount—Saint-Louis. From 1939 to 1966, it was part of Westmount-Saint-Georges...
riding during the first portion of the 2nd Legislative Assembly of Quebec
2nd Legislative Assembly of Quebec
The 2nd Legislative Assembly of Quebec was the provincial legislature in Quebec, Canada that existed from July 1871 to July 7, 1875. The Quebec Conservative Party led by Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau, Gédéon Ouimet and Charles Boucher de Boucherville was the governing party...
.
Just months after becoming Montreal's uncontested mayor in February 1873, Cassidy died in office that June. He never married.
External links
Les archives de Radio-Canada: Francis Cassidy, maire de Montréal (2 November 1948)