Joseph Dufour, dit Bona (October 7, 1744 – December 15, 1829) was a farmer 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 Joseph-Michel Dufour at Petite-Rivière

Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, Quebec

Petite-Rivière-Saint-François is a municipality in Quebec, Canada, along the Saint Lawrence River. It is considered the gateway to the Charlevoix region.It is home to Le Massif ski resort.-History:...

 in 1744. He married Charlotte, the daughter of Guillaume Tremblay, in 1771 and went to live on Île aux Coudres. He supported his family by farming and hunting belugas. The 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:...

 of the island was the Séminaire de Québec and, on occasion, Dufour acted as their agent. He was selected as one of the two millers on the island. By 1792, Dufour had been named a captain in the local militia and, in that year, was elected to the 1st Parliament of Lower Canada

1st Parliament of Lower Canada

The 1st Parliament of Lower Canada was in session from December 17, 1792 to May 31, 1796. Elections in Lower Canada had been held in June 1792. All sessions were held at Quebec City.- External links :***...

 for Northumberland

Northumberland County, Quebec

Northumberland County, Quebec is a local division within Quebec and also in Lower Canada....

. At 6 feet 7 inches in height, he was easily the tallest member of the assembly. Dufour was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in the militia in 1794 and served until his resignation in 1825. His wife died in 1792; his eldest daughter died the following year and he was left with two young daughters.

Dufour died at Île aux Coudres in 1829. One of his sons-in-law inherited his assets.