Michel-Eustache-Gaspard-Alain Chartier de Lotbinière
Encyclopedia
Colonel The Hon. Michel-Eustache-Gaspard-Alain Chartier de Lotbinière (August 31, 1748 – January 1, 1822), de jure
2nd Marquis
de Lotbinière. He was seigneur
of Vaudreuil
, Lotbinière
and Rigaud, Quebec
, and the Speaker of the House of Commons
in Lower Canada
who saw to it that the French language
was recognised as equal to English
in the Quebec Parliament.
in 1748, he was the son of Michel Chartier de Lotbinière, Marquis de Lotbinière
and his wife Louise, daughter of Chevalier Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Lery (1682-1756), Engineer-in-Chief of New France
. He was a first cousin of Antoine Juchereau Duchesnay (seigneur)
of Beauport, Quebec
. De Lotbinière inherited the title of Marquis
de Lotbinière from his father in 1798, but he never used it, probably to keep political favor with the English.
during the siege
of Quebec
in 1759. The following year he was gazetted second Ensign
with the French army when they were stationed in Montreal
before accompanying his father to France
. In France he resumed his studies with the thought of joining the French Cavalry
, but following the loss of his father's land in America c.1763 he returned to Quebec and was commissioned as a surveyor in 1768.
From 1770 his father had incurred many debts, so with the financial help of his friend Charles-Francois Tarieu de La Naudiere, he kept the seigneuries of Lotbiniere, Vaudreuil, Rigaud and Rigaud de Vaudreuil (which he sold in 1772 to his uncle) in the family by purchasing them from his father. Although only in his early twenties, through his immense properties, prestigious name and family connections he was now one of the most influential Canadian seigneurs.
Unlike his father, he immediately recognised the importance of working with the English and he therefore adapted himself to the circumstances in which he found himself. After the American invasion in 1775 he was one of the first Canadian seigneurs to offer his services to the Governor Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
. He helped to defend Fort St Johns (later Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu) against the Americans
, but was captured and taken prisoner by the Americans where he was removed to Albany. It was during this time that he developed a strong friendship with William Bingham
, whose only son later went on to marry one of his daughters. He was released in 1776 and on returning to Montreal in 1777, having won Carleton's trust, he was appointed a Justice of the Peace
. He continued to serve in the Canadian militia
and in 1794 became Lieutenant-Colonel of the Vaudreuil Battalion of Militia. In 1803 he was made a full Colonel
, finally retiring from the militia in 1818 and died in Montreal
in 1822.
, for the riding of York which took in his seigneuries of Vaudreuil
and Rigaud, Quebec
. Politically he is best remembered for his role in sanctioning the use of French in the Parliamentary records. In a speech recorded in the Quebec Gazette on 31st January, 1793, he asked for French and English to be given equal recognition in the House,
Since the majority of our constituents are placed in a special situation, we are obliged to depart from the ordinary rules and forced to ask for the use of a language which is not that of the empire; but, being as fair to others as we hope they will be to us, we should not want our language eventually to banish that of His Majesty’s other subjects.
The moment is captured in a painting by Charles Huot which hangs above the speaker’s chair in the present-day National Assembly of Quebec
.
in 1802. They were the parents of three beautiful daughters, the heiresses known as 'the three graces' or 'les trois cannelles' in Quebec Society of the day. The eldest, Louise-Josephte (1803-1869) chose the family home of Vaudreuil
as her dowry and married Robert Unwin Harwood
. They were the parents of ten children, from whom descend the de Lotbinière-Harwood family.
The second daughter, Marie-Charlotte (1805-1866), was given Rigaud, Quebec
as her dowry. In 1821, she married the American millionaire
, William Bingham (whose sister was married to Alexander Baring, 1st Baron Ashburton
), the only son of Senator William Bingham
of Philadelphia (an old friend of Charlotte's father), and his wife Ann Willing Bingham
, daughter of Thomas Willing
. They lived in Montreal
before moving to Paris
and later separated. He remained in Paris
and she died at Oxford Terrace in London
. They were the parents of two sons who died in early manhood and three daughters. All three daughters lived in France
and married French Counts. The youngest, Georgina, married Count Raoul d'Eprémesnil, grandson of Jean-Jacques Duval d'Eprémesnil
. The Seigneury of Rigaud, Quebec
was passed to Charlotte's eldest niece, Marie-Louise de Lotbinière-Harwood, who married Antoine Eustache de Bellefeuille MacDonald.
The youngest of the three daughters, Julie-Christine (1810-1887) was given Lotbinière
as her dowry, and she married Gaspard-Pierre-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière
, the first man to photograph the Acropolis
. They were the parents of a daughter and two sons. Their second son, Edmond, was killed at the Siege of Lucknow
. From the eldest son, Sir Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière
, grandfather of Seymour de Lotbiniere
, descend the Joly de Lotbinière family.
His grandsons, Antoine Chartier de Lotbinière Harwood
and Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière
, both later became members of the legislative assembly for Canada East and then Quebec. Joly de Lotbinière also served as Prime Minister of Quebec and Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
. Two more grandsons, Robert Harwood
and Henry Stanislas Harwood
were Canadian MPs for Vaudreuil
.
De jure
De jure is an expression that means "concerning law", as contrasted with de facto, which means "concerning fact".De jure = 'Legally', De facto = 'In fact'....
2nd Marquis
Marquis
Marquis is a French and Scottish title of nobility. The English equivalent is Marquess, while in German, it is Markgraf.It may also refer to:Persons:...
de Lotbinière. He was 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 Vaudreuil
Vaudreuil
-Places:Canada* Vaudreuil-Dorion, a city located west of Montreal, Quebec* Terrasse-Vaudreuil, Quebec, a small Quebec municipality located near Montreal* Vaudreuil-Soulanges Regional County Municipality, Quebec...
, Lotbinière
Lotbinière
-Places:*Lotbinière Regional County Municipality, Quebec**Lotbinière, Quebec, a municipality**Sainte-Agathe-de-Lotbinière, Quebec, a municipality**Saint-Édouard-de-Lotbinière, Quebec, a parish...
and Rigaud, Quebec
Rigaud, Quebec
Rigaud is a municipality in southwestern Quebec, Canada in the county of Vaudreuil-Soulanges at the junction of the Ottawa River and the Rigaud River. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 6,780...
, and the Speaker of the House of Commons
Speaker of the House of Commons
Speaker of the House of Commons can refer to:*Speaker of the House of Commons *Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada*Speaker of the Northern Ireland House of Commons...
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...
who saw to it that the French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
was recognised as equal to English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
in the Quebec Parliament.
Family
Born in the Quebec CityQuebec 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 1748, he was the son of Michel Chartier de Lotbinière, Marquis de Lotbinière
Michel Chartier de Lotbinière, Marquis de Lotbinière
Michel Chartier de Lotbinière, 1st Marquis de Lotbinière , Seigneur of Vaudreuil, Lotbinière and Rigaud, Quebec etc. On his advice, the Marquis de Montcalm successfully attacked Fort William Henry in 1757...
and his wife Louise, daughter of Chevalier Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Lery (1682-1756), Engineer-in-Chief of New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
. He was a first cousin of Antoine Juchereau Duchesnay (seigneur)
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...
of Beauport, Quebec
Beauport, Quebec
Beauport is a borough of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada on the Saint Lawrence River.Beauport is a northeastern suburb of Quebec City. Manufactures include paint, construction materials, printers, and hospital supplies. Food transportation is important to the economy...
. De Lotbinière inherited the title of Marquis
Marquis
Marquis is a French and Scottish title of nobility. The English equivalent is Marquess, while in German, it is Markgraf.It may also refer to:Persons:...
de Lotbinière from his father in 1798, but he never used it, probably to keep political favor with the English.
Military Life
Aged eleven, he served as a cadetCadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
during the siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
in 1759. The following year he was gazetted second Ensign
Ensign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
with the French army when they were stationed in 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...
before accompanying his father to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. In France he resumed his studies with the thought of joining the French Cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
, but following the loss of his father's land in America c.1763 he returned to Quebec and was commissioned as a surveyor in 1768.
From 1770 his father had incurred many debts, so with the financial help of his friend Charles-Francois Tarieu de La Naudiere, he kept the seigneuries of Lotbiniere, Vaudreuil, Rigaud and Rigaud de Vaudreuil (which he sold in 1772 to his uncle) in the family by purchasing them from his father. Although only in his early twenties, through his immense properties, prestigious name and family connections he was now one of the most influential Canadian seigneurs.
Unlike his father, he immediately recognised the importance of working with the English and he therefore adapted himself to the circumstances in which he found himself. After the American invasion in 1775 he was one of the first Canadian seigneurs to offer his services to the Governor Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, KB , known between 1776 and 1786 as Sir Guy Carleton, was an Irish-British soldier and administrator...
. He helped to defend Fort St Johns (later Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu) against the Americans
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but was captured and taken prisoner by the Americans where he was removed to Albany. It was during this time that he developed a strong friendship with William Bingham
William Bingham
William Bingham was an American statesman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress from 1786 to 1788 and served in the United States Senate from 1795 to 1801...
, whose only son later went on to marry one of his daughters. He was released in 1776 and on returning to Montreal in 1777, having won Carleton's trust, he was appointed a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
. He continued to serve in the Canadian 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...
and in 1794 became Lieutenant-Colonel of the Vaudreuil Battalion of Militia. In 1803 he was made a full Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
, finally retiring from the militia in 1818 and died in 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 1822.
Politics
In the new House of Assembly he was elected with his brother-in-law, Pierre-Amable de BonnePierre-Amable de Bonne
Pierre-Amable de Bonne was a seigneur, lawyer, judge and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in Montreal in 1758, the son of Louis de Bonne de Missègle, and studied at a college operated by the Sulpicians, then the Collège Saint-Raphaël and the Petit Séminaire de Québec...
, for the riding of York which took in his seigneuries of Vaudreuil
Vaudreuil
-Places:Canada* Vaudreuil-Dorion, a city located west of Montreal, Quebec* Terrasse-Vaudreuil, Quebec, a small Quebec municipality located near Montreal* Vaudreuil-Soulanges Regional County Municipality, Quebec...
and Rigaud, Quebec
Rigaud, Quebec
Rigaud is a municipality in southwestern Quebec, Canada in the county of Vaudreuil-Soulanges at the junction of the Ottawa River and the Rigaud River. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 6,780...
. Politically he is best remembered for his role in sanctioning the use of French in the Parliamentary records. In a speech recorded in the Quebec Gazette on 31st January, 1793, he asked for French and English to be given equal recognition in the House,
Since the majority of our constituents are placed in a special situation, we are obliged to depart from the ordinary rules and forced to ask for the use of a language which is not that of the empire; but, being as fair to others as we hope they will be to us, we should not want our language eventually to banish that of His Majesty’s other subjects.
The moment is captured in a painting by Charles Huot which hangs above the speaker’s chair in the present-day National Assembly of Quebec
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
.
Three Heiresses
After his first wife (Josette, daughter of Louis-Joseph Godefroy de Tonnancour) died in 1799, he married Mary Charlotte Munro, daughter of John Munro
John Munro (loyalist)
The Hon. John Munro was a soldier, judge and political figure in Upper Canada.Born in 1728 at Fyrish, Alness, he was descended on both sides from the Clan Munro of Foulis Castle...
in 1802. They were the parents of three beautiful daughters, the heiresses known as 'the three graces' or 'les trois cannelles' in Quebec Society of the day. The eldest, Louise-Josephte (1803-1869) chose the family home of Vaudreuil
Vaudreuil
-Places:Canada* Vaudreuil-Dorion, a city located west of Montreal, Quebec* Terrasse-Vaudreuil, Quebec, a small Quebec municipality located near Montreal* Vaudreuil-Soulanges Regional County Municipality, Quebec...
as her dowry and married Robert Unwin Harwood
Robert Unwin Harwood
The Hon. Robert Unwin Harwood was the last Seigneur of Vaudreuil and a political figure in Lower Canada and Canada East.-Arrival in Canada:...
. They were the parents of ten children, from whom descend the de Lotbinière-Harwood family.
The second daughter, Marie-Charlotte (1805-1866), was given Rigaud, Quebec
Rigaud, Quebec
Rigaud is a municipality in southwestern Quebec, Canada in the county of Vaudreuil-Soulanges at the junction of the Ottawa River and the Rigaud River. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 6,780...
as her dowry. In 1821, she married the American millionaire
Millionaire
A millionaire is an individual whose net worth or wealth is equal to or exceeds one million units of currency. It can also be a person who owns one million units of currency in a bank account or savings account...
, William Bingham (whose sister was married to Alexander Baring, 1st Baron Ashburton
Alexander Baring, 1st Baron Ashburton
Alexander Baring, 1st Baron Ashburton PC was a British politician and financier.-Background:Baring was the second son of Sir Francis Baring, 1st Baronet, and of Harriet, daughter of William Herring...
), the only son of Senator William Bingham
William Bingham
William Bingham was an American statesman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress from 1786 to 1788 and served in the United States Senate from 1795 to 1801...
of Philadelphia (an old friend of Charlotte's father), and his wife Ann Willing Bingham
Ann Willing Bingham
Ann Willing Bingham was an American socialite from Philadelphia, regarded as one of the most beautiful women of her day...
, daughter of Thomas Willing
Thomas Willing
Thomas Willing was an American merchant and financier and a Delegate to the Continental Congress from Pennsylvania....
. They lived in 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...
before moving to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and later separated. He remained in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and she died at Oxford Terrace in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. They were the parents of two sons who died in early manhood and three daughters. All three daughters lived in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and married French Counts. The youngest, Georgina, married Count Raoul d'Eprémesnil, grandson of Jean-Jacques Duval d'Eprémesnil
Jean-Jacques Duval d'Eprémesnil
Jean-Jacques Duval d'Eprémesnil , French magistrate and politician, was born in India at Pondicherry, his father being a colleague of Dupleix....
. The Seigneury of Rigaud, Quebec
Rigaud, Quebec
Rigaud is a municipality in southwestern Quebec, Canada in the county of Vaudreuil-Soulanges at the junction of the Ottawa River and the Rigaud River. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 6,780...
was passed to Charlotte's eldest niece, Marie-Louise de Lotbinière-Harwood, who married Antoine Eustache de Bellefeuille MacDonald.
The youngest of the three daughters, Julie-Christine (1810-1887) was given Lotbinière
Lotbinière
-Places:*Lotbinière Regional County Municipality, Quebec**Lotbinière, Quebec, a municipality**Sainte-Agathe-de-Lotbinière, Quebec, a municipality**Saint-Édouard-de-Lotbinière, Quebec, a parish...
as her dowry, and she married Gaspard-Pierre-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière
Gaspard-Pierre-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière
Gaspard-Pierre-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière, born in 1798 in Frauenfeld and died in 1865 in Paris, was a French merchant and photographer born in Switzerland, married to a Canadian seigneuress. Famous for being the first to photograph the Acropolis and then the Egyptian Pyramids with Horace Vernet...
, the first man to photograph the Acropolis
Acropolis
Acropolis means "high city" in Greek, literally city on the extremity and is usually translated into English as Citadel . For purposes of defense, early people naturally chose elevated ground to build a new settlement, frequently a hill with precipitous sides...
. They were the parents of a daughter and two sons. Their second son, Edmond, was killed at the Siege of Lucknow
Siege of Lucknow
The Siege of Lucknow was the prolonged defense of the Residency within the city of Lucknow during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. After two successive relief attempts had reached the city, the defenders and civilians were evacuated from the Residency, which was abandoned.Lucknow was the capital of...
. From the eldest son, Sir Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière
Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière
Sir Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière, served as the fourth Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec, a federal Cabinet minister, and the seventh Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.- Early years :...
, grandfather of Seymour de Lotbiniere
Seymour de Lotbiniere
Seymour Joly de Lotbiniere CVO known as ‘Lobby’ was a Director of the British Broadcasting Corporation and pioneer of outside broadcasts. He is recognised as developing the technique of sports commentary on radio and subsequently television, and he masterminded the televising of the 1953...
, descend the Joly de Lotbinière family.
His grandsons, Antoine Chartier de Lotbinière Harwood
Antoine Chartier de Lotbinière Harwood
Antoine Chartier de Lotbinière Harwood was a Quebec lawyer and political figure. He represented Vaudreuil in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1867 to 1871....
and Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière
Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière
Sir Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière, served as the fourth Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec, a federal Cabinet minister, and the seventh Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.- Early years :...
, both later became members of the legislative assembly for Canada East and then Quebec. Joly de Lotbinière also served as Prime Minister of Quebec and Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
The Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia is the viceregal representative in British Columbia of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared with equally the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest...
. Two more grandsons, Robert Harwood
Robert Harwood
Robert William de Lotbinière-Harwood was a Quebec landowner and political figure representing Vaudreuil in the Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal-Conservative member from 1872 to 1878.-Career:...
and Henry Stanislas Harwood
Henry Stanislas Harwood
The Hon. Henry Stanislas de Lotbiniere Harwood was a Quebec farmer and political figure. He represented Vaudreuil in the Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal member from 1891 to 1892 and 1893 to 1904....
were Canadian MPs for Vaudreuil
Vaudreuil
-Places:Canada* Vaudreuil-Dorion, a city located west of Montreal, Quebec* Terrasse-Vaudreuil, Quebec, a small Quebec municipality located near Montreal* Vaudreuil-Soulanges Regional County Municipality, Quebec...
.