Jean-Baptiste Juchereau Duchesnay
Encyclopedia
Jean-Baptiste Juchereau Duchesnay (February 16, 1779 – January 13, 1833) was a Canadian
politician
, officer
, merchant
, and seigneur
.
Jean-Baptiste Juchereau Duchesnay was born in Beauport, Quebec to Antoine Juchereau Duchesnay
and Catherine Dupré. In 1792 he was placed as a boarder at Quebec, where for three years he attended the Petit Séminaire
. In 1796 he became an ensign
in the Royal Canadian Volunteer Regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph-Dominique-Emmanuel Le Moyne de Longueuil and his own godfather
, Major Ignace-Michel-Louis-Antoine d'Irumberry de Salaberry
. He was promoted lieutenant
, and served until the regiment was disbanded in 1802.
That year he set himself up as a merchant at Lotbinière
. However, he rejoined the army in 1805, being commissioned an ensign in the 60th Foot, a unit in which his brother Michel-Louis
also served. In 1806 he was promoted lieutenant in the same regiment. During the War of 1812
Duchesnay served as a captain in the Canadian Voltigeurs
, under Charles-Michel d’Irumberry de Salaberry
. He distinguished himself on several occasions, particularly in the Battle of the Chateauguay on October 26, 1813. Duchesnay was made a major on February 25, 1814.
At his father's death in 1806 he inherited the use of the seigneury of Grande-Anse. It was later purchased by Amable Dionne
, a Kamouraska
merchant.
In March 1821 Duchesnay was named provincial aide-de-camp
by Governor Lord Dalhousie
, an appointment bringing him the rank of lieutenant colonel
in the militia
. Two years later he took command of the Saint-Jean-Port-Joli battalion of militia and in 1828 he was called on to serve as militia inspector
. On April 4, 1832 he was appointed to the Legislative Council
. The following month he became a member of the Quebec Board of Health.
He died of cholera
at Quebec
on January 13, 1833 and was buried two days later in the church at Beauport.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
, merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
, and seigneur
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:...
.
Jean-Baptiste Juchereau Duchesnay was born in Beauport, Quebec to Antoine Juchereau Duchesnay
Antoine Juchereau Duchesnay (seigneur)
Antoine Juchereau Duchesnay was a seigneur and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in Beauport in 1740, the son of Antoine Juchereau Duchesnay. He served as an ensign in the army of New France. After the British gained control of Quebec, he served with the British Army. In 1767, he formed...
and Catherine Dupré. In 1792 he was placed as a boarder at Quebec, where for three years he attended the Petit Séminaire
Petit Séminaire of Quebec
The Seminary of Quebec is a Roman Catholic community of priests in Quebec City founded by Bishop François de Laval, the first bishop of New France in 1663.-History and Mission:...
. In 1796 he became an ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
in the Royal Canadian Volunteer Regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph-Dominique-Emmanuel Le Moyne de Longueuil and his own godfather
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
, Major Ignace-Michel-Louis-Antoine d'Irumberry de Salaberry
Ignace-Michel-Louis-Antoine d'Irumberry de Salaberry
Ignace-Michel-Louis-Antoine d'Irumberry de Salaberry was the son of Michel de Sallaberry and he was the first member of the family to develop permanent roots in Canada...
. He was promoted lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, and served until the regiment was disbanded in 1802.
That year he set himself up as a merchant at Lotbinière
Lotbinière, Quebec
Lotbinière is a municipality in the Municipalité régionale de comté de Lotbinière in Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Chaudière-Appalaches region and the population is 909 as of 2009. It is named after seigneurie of which it was part...
. However, he rejoined the army in 1805, being commissioned an ensign in the 60th Foot, a unit in which his brother Michel-Louis
Michel-Louis Juchereau Duchesnay
Michel-Louis Juchereau Duchesnay was a Canadian officer, seigneur, and justice of the peace.Born in Beauport, he was the third and last child born of the second marriage of Antoine Juchereau Duchesnay. In 1794 his mother, Catherine Le Comte Dupré, left the manor house after being accused of adultery...
also served. In 1806 he was promoted lieutenant in the same regiment. During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
Duchesnay served as a captain in the Canadian Voltigeurs
Canadian Voltigeurs
The Canadian Voltigeurs were a light infantry unit, raised in Lower Canada in 1812, that fought in the War of 1812 between Britain and the United States.-Formation:...
, under Charles-Michel d’Irumberry de Salaberry
Charles de Salaberry
Lieutenant Colonel Charles-Michel d'Irumberry de Salaberry was a French-Canadian of the seigneurial class who served as an officer of the British army in Lower Canada and won distinction for repelling the American advance on Montreal during the War of 1812.-Early years:Born at the manor house of...
. He distinguished himself on several occasions, particularly in the Battle of the Chateauguay on October 26, 1813. Duchesnay was made a major on February 25, 1814.
At his father's death in 1806 he inherited the use of the seigneury of Grande-Anse. It was later purchased by Amable Dionne
Amable Dionne
Amable Dionne was a businessman, seigneur and political figure in Lower Canada and Canada East.He was born in Kamouraska in 1781 and grew up there. He became a clerk for Pierre Casgrain, a merchant at Rivière-Ouelle, and, in 1811, was made a partner in the business...
, a Kamouraska
Kamouraska, Quebec
Kamouraska is a municipality on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Regional County Municipality of Kamouraska...
merchant.
In March 1821 Duchesnay was named provincial aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
by Governor Lord Dalhousie
James Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie
James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie KT, PC was a Scottish statesman, and a colonial administrator in British India....
, an appointment bringing him the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in the militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
. Two years later he took command of the Saint-Jean-Port-Joli battalion of militia and in 1828 he was called on to serve as militia inspector
Inspector
Inspector is both a police rank and an administrative position, both used in a number of contexts. However, it is not an equivalent rank in each police force.- Australia :...
. On April 4, 1832 he was appointed 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...
. The following month he became a member of the Quebec Board of Health.
He died of cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
at Quebec
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...
on January 13, 1833 and was buried two days later in the church at Beauport.