Jean-Baptiste-Éric Dorion
Encyclopedia
Jean-Baptiste-Éric Dorion (September 17, 1826 – November 1, 1866) was a journalist and political figure in Canada East
.
He was born in Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade
, Lower Canada
in 1826, the son of Pierre-Antoine Dorion
. In 1842, he found work as a clerk in a store at Trois-Rivières
. He was editor and publisher of a small newspaper there, Gros Jean l'Escogriffe. He moved to Montreal
in 1844 and helped found the Institut canadien de Montréal
. In 1847, he helped launch L'Avenir
with George Batchelor. In the same year, he also helped found the Société Mercantile d’Économie, an association for store clerks, and served as secretary. He supported annexation to the United States
. In 1852, L'Avenir ceased publication. Shortly afterward, Dorion moved to Durham (later L'Avenir
). In 1854, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
for Drummond and Athabaska
. He opposed the bill to abolish seigneurial tenure
because he felt it was unfair to settlers. He was defeated in the 1857 election, but reelected in 1861 and 1863. In 1862, he founded another newspaper, Le Défricheur. He opposed Confederation
, because he thought that the provinces would be dominated by the federal government.
He died in L'Avenir in 1866 after suffering a heart attack
.
His older brother Antoine-Aimé
was a lawyer, member of the Legislative Assembly, co-premier for the Province of Canada and member of the Canadian House of Commons.
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....
.
He was born in Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade
Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, Quebec
Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade is a municipality in the Les Chenaux Regional County Municipality, in the Mauricie region of the province of Quebec in Canada. The town is located near the mouth of the Sainte-Anne River along the Chemin du Roy, a historic segment of Quebec Route 138 that stretches from...
, 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...
in 1826, the son of Pierre-Antoine Dorion
Pierre-Antoine Dorion
Pierre-Antoine Dorion was a businessman and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in Lower Canada around 1789. He worked as a clerk in a store at Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade for Pierre Bureau and then established himself as a lumber merchant there. In 1814, he married Bureau's daughter,...
. In 1842, he found work as a clerk in a store at 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...
. He was editor and publisher of a small newspaper there, Gros Jean l'Escogriffe. He moved to 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 1844 and helped found 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...
. In 1847, he helped launch L'Avenir
L'Avenir
L'Avenir is a daily newspaper published in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The company is part of the Groupe L'Avenir, a media group of the DRC. The content of the paper is primarily French, and includes content written in Lingala and Swahili...
with George Batchelor. In the same year, he also helped found the Société Mercantile d’Économie, an association for store clerks, and served as secretary. He supported annexation to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1852, L'Avenir ceased publication. Shortly afterward, Dorion moved to Durham (later L'Avenir
L'Avenir, Quebec
L'Avenir is a municipality located in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 1,262.-Population:Population trend-Language:Mother tongue language -References:...
). In 1854, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada was the lower house of the legislature for the Province of Canada, which consisted of the former provinces of Lower Canada, then known as Canada East and later the province of Quebec, and Upper Canada, then known as Canada West and later the...
for Drummond and Athabaska
Drummond—Arthabaska
Drummond—Arthabaska was a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1968.It was created by the British North America Act of 1867...
. He opposed the bill to abolish seigneurial tenure
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:...
because he felt it was unfair to settlers. He was defeated in the 1857 election, but reelected in 1861 and 1863. In 1862, he founded another newspaper, Le Défricheur. He opposed Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
, because he thought that the provinces would be dominated by the federal government.
He died in L'Avenir in 1866 after suffering a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
.
His older brother Antoine-Aimé
Antoine-Aimé Dorion
Sir Antoine-Aimé Dorion, PC was a French Canadian politician and jurist.-Early years:He was born in Lower Canada in 1818, the son of Pierre-Antoine Dorion, a merchant and member of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada who supported Louis-Joseph Papineau...
was a lawyer, member of the Legislative Assembly, co-premier for the Province of Canada and member of the Canadian House of Commons.