Joseph Bourret
Encyclopedia
Joseph Bourret was a 19th century Canadian lawyer, banker and politician.
Bourret was educated at the Classical College at Nicolet, Quebec. After clerking for three years for his uncle, Bourret was admitted to the bar in 1823. He practiced law at his uncle's office for ten years. When his uncle died, he entered into a partnership with a well known lawyer, Toussaint Pelletier.
He was appointed to the city council by the colonial government in 1840. He was elected councilor for the Center Quarter in 1842 and the Quartier St. Antoine from 1846 until 1852. (At that time, municipal politicians often served in the provincial legislature). Bourret was the third (1842-1844) and sixth (1847-1849) mayor of Montreal
, Quebec, and served as minister of public works in the Lafontaine-Baldwin government. Bourret also served on the legislative council of Canada from 1848 until his death in 1859.
Bourret was supported by Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine
because as a moderate, he was acceptable to the rich Anglo-Saxons who formed the majority of the Montreal
electorate. While Lafontaine and Bourret supported responsible government
, they provided a more moderate option than the radicals that led the Rebellions of 1837
.
Bourret also worked to preserve the French-Canadian identity. In 1843, he and Ludger Duvernay
restored the mutual aid organization that became the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
. He later served as the fifth president (1848-1849). He was also a co-founder of one of French Canada's earliest financial institutions, Banque d’Épargne de la Cité et du District de Montréal. The bank was established to serve working-class Quebecers and had the strong support of the Roman Catholic Church.
During his time as mayor, Montreal was the capital of the Province of Canada (see Union of Upper and Lower Canada
). Therefore, Bourret bestowed the Saint Anne Market Building to the Parliament of the Canadas. Bourret was instrumental in the construction of the Bonsecours Market
and the aqueducts into Montreal. He became an advocate for a safe water system after a cholera outbreak during his second term as mayor.
Bourret was educated at the Classical College at Nicolet, Quebec. After clerking for three years for his uncle, Bourret was admitted to the bar in 1823. He practiced law at his uncle's office for ten years. When his uncle died, he entered into a partnership with a well known lawyer, Toussaint Pelletier.
He was appointed to the city council by the colonial government in 1840. He was elected councilor for the Center Quarter in 1842 and the Quartier St. Antoine from 1846 until 1852. (At that time, municipal politicians often served in the provincial legislature). Bourret was the third (1842-1844) and sixth (1847-1849) mayor of Montreal
Mayor of Montreal
The Mayor of Montreal is head of the executive branch of Montreal City Council.The Mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and provincial laws within Montreal....
, Quebec, and served as minister of public works in the Lafontaine-Baldwin government. Bourret also served on the legislative council of Canada from 1848 until his death in 1859.
Bourret was supported by Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine
Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine
Sir Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine , 1st Baronet, KCMG was the first Canadian to become Prime Minister of the United Province of Canada and the first head of a responsible government in Canada. He was born in Boucherville, Lower Canada in 1807...
because as a moderate, he was acceptable to the rich Anglo-Saxons who formed the majority of the 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...
electorate. While Lafontaine and Bourret supported responsible government
Responsible government
Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability which is the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy...
, they provided a more moderate option than the radicals that led the Rebellions of 1837
Rebellions of 1837
The Rebellions of 1837 were a pair of Canadian armed uprisings that occurred in 1837 and 1838 in response to frustrations in political reform. A key shared goal was the allowance of responsible government, which was eventually achieved in the incident's aftermath.-Rebellions:The rebellions started...
.
Bourret also worked to preserve the French-Canadian identity. In 1843, he and Ludger Duvernay
Ludger Duvernay
Ludger Duvernay was born in Verchères, Quebec, Canada.He was a printer by profession and published a number of newspapers including the Gazette des Trois-Rivières, the first newspaper in Lower Canada outside of Quebec City and Montreal, and also La Minerve, which supported the Parti patriote and...
restored the mutual aid organization that became the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society is an institution in Quebec dedicated to the protection of Quebec francophone interests and to the promotion of Quebec Sovereignism. Its current President is Mario Beaulieu....
. He later served as the fifth president (1848-1849). He was also a co-founder of one of French Canada's earliest financial institutions, Banque d’Épargne de la Cité et du District de Montréal. The bank was established to serve working-class Quebecers and had the strong support of the Roman Catholic Church.
During his time as mayor, Montreal was the capital of the Province of Canada (see Union of Upper and Lower Canada
Union of Upper and Lower Canada
The Union of Upper and Lower Canada created the Province of Canada in 1841. This province lasted until 1867 when Canadian Confederation encouraged the two groups to split again into the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec- Upper and Lower Canada :...
). Therefore, Bourret bestowed the Saint Anne Market Building to the Parliament of the Canadas. Bourret was instrumental in the construction of the Bonsecours Market
Bonsecours Market
Bonsecours Market , at 350 rue Saint-Paul in Old Montreal, is a two-story domed public market. For more than 100 years, it was the main public market in the Montreal area. It also briefly accommodated the Parliament of United Canada for one session in 1849....
and the aqueducts into Montreal. He became an advocate for a safe water system after a cholera outbreak during his second term as mayor.