Jacques-Nicolas Perrault
Encyclopedia
Jacques-Nicolas Perrault (August 6, 1750 – August 7, 1812) was a seigneur
, businessman and political figure in Lower Canada
.
He was born in Quebec City
in 1750, the son of Jacques Perrault and grandson of Pierre Boucher de Boucherville. He entered his father's business and continued in business after his father died in 1775. Like his father, Perrault later referred to himself as Perrault l'aîné. In 1779, he married Marie-Anne, the daughter of merchant Jean-Baptiste Amiot; she died in 1782. Like other businesspeople of the time, he lobbied for a representative assembly for the province. Perrault was a captain in the local militia and a justice of the peace. He received the seigneury of La Bouteillerie (or Rivière-Ouelle) from his uncle, gaining full ownership in 1792 when his mother died. In 1793, he settled at Rivière-Ouelle
, where he had married Thérèse-Esther Hausman, the widow of a local merchant. With the aim of developing his seigneury, he purchased property which include a sawmill
, barley mill and blacksmith
's stop; he built a wharf and set up a sugar bush
. He was named colonel in the local militia. Perrault was elected to represent Cornwallis in the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
in 1804; he was named to the Legislative Council
in 1812. While in the assembly, he supported legislation that banned judges from being members of the legislative assembly.
He was found dead in his bath at Rivière-Ouelle in 1812 after having been ill for several days.
His brother Olivier
was a judge and also served in the legislative council.
Seigneurial system of New France
The seigneurial system of New France was the semi-feudal system of land distribution used in the North American colonies of New France.-Introduction to New France:...
, businessman and political figure in Lower Canada
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 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...
in 1750, the son of Jacques Perrault and grandson of Pierre Boucher de Boucherville. He entered his father's business and continued in business after his father died in 1775. Like his father, Perrault later referred to himself as Perrault l'aîné. In 1779, he married Marie-Anne, the daughter of merchant Jean-Baptiste Amiot; she died in 1782. Like other businesspeople of the time, he lobbied for a representative assembly for the province. Perrault was a captain in the local militia and a justice of the peace. He received the seigneury of La Bouteillerie (or Rivière-Ouelle) from his uncle, gaining full ownership in 1792 when his mother died. In 1793, he settled at Rivière-Ouelle
Rivière-Ouelle, Quebec
Rivière-Ouelle is a town located in the Kamouraska Regional County Municipality within the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec. It is located on the Saint Lawrence River; the Ouelle River flows through the town...
, where he had married Thérèse-Esther Hausman, the widow of a local merchant. With the aim of developing his seigneury, he purchased property which include a sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
, barley mill and blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
's stop; he built a wharf and set up a sugar bush
Sugar bush
Sugar bush refers to a forest stand which is exploited for maple syrup. The tree canopy is dominated by sugar maple or black maple. Other tree species, if present, form only a small fraction of the total tree cover...
. He was named colonel in the local militia. Perrault was elected to represent Cornwallis in 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 1804; he was named to the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Lower Canada
The Legislative Council of Lower Canada was the upper house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The upper house consisted of appointed councillors who voted on bills passed up by the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada. The legislative council was...
in 1812. While in the assembly, he supported legislation that banned judges from being members of the legislative assembly.
He was found dead in his bath at Rivière-Ouelle in 1812 after having been ill for several days.
His brother Olivier
Olivier Perrault
Olivier Perrault was a seigneur, lawyer, judge and political figure in Lower Canada. He was also sometimes known as Jean-Baptiste-Olivier Perrault....
was a judge and also served in the legislative council.