Pierre-Amable de Bonne
Encyclopedia
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
. He served in the militia defending the town of Quebec
during the siege by the Americans
in 1775-6. He participated in the campaign at Lake Champlain
, becoming lieutenant, and was taken prisoner in 1777 at the Battle of Saratoga
. De Bonne continued to serve in the militia after this time, becoming colonel in 1809. He studied law at Montreal and qualified as a lawyer and notary
in 1780.
De Bonne inherited the seigneury of Sault-Sainte-Marie from his father; he acquired additional properties over the years. In 1781, he married Louise, daughter of Michel Chartier de Lotbinière
; they separated by mutual consent in 1782. In 1788, he was named a justice of the peace. De Bonne was a director of the Théâtre de Société, formed in Montreal in 1789. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
for York in 1792; he was elected again in Trois-Rivières in 1796 and then again in 1800. He was then elected in Quebec County in 1804, 1808 and 1809. In the assembly, de Bonne was among those supporting the use of French
as well as English by the assembly. In 1794, he was named to the Executive Council, serving until his death. De Bonne helped found the newspaper Le Courier de Québec, which opposed the Parti canadien
.
In 1794, he was appointed judge in the Court of Common Pleas and in the Court of King’s Bench for Quebec district. As a judge, he supported the continued use of French
civil law. The Parti canadien on a number of occasions attempted to introduced legislation prohibiting judges from sitting in the legislature; this was in part aimed at de Bonne. In 1809, Lieutenant-governor James Henry Craig
dissolved parliament as a result. In 1810, the assembly voted to declare his seat vacant. Again, the governor dissolved parliament. De Bonne retired as a judge in 1812.
In 1805, de Bonne had married again after his first wife died in 1802. He died at his estate in Beauport
in 1816 and apparently left his estate to a relative. His second wife was unable to secure a pension from the government after de Bonne's death and committed suicide in a hospital for the insane in 1848.
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:...
, lawyer, judge 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 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 1758, the son of Louis de Bonne de Missègle, and studied at a college operated by the Sulpicians
Society of Saint-Sulpice
The Society of Saint-Sulpice is a Catholic Society of Apostolic Life named for Eglise Saint-Sulpice, Paris, in turn named for St. Sulpitius the Pious. Typically, priests become members of the Society of St. Sulpice only after ordination and some years of pastoral work. Uniquely, Sulpicians retain...
, then the Collège Saint-Raphaël
Collège de Montréal
The Collège de Montréal is a private secondary school for students attending grades 7–11 located in Downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada. A former Roman Catholic Seminary, it was founded 1 June 1767 as the Petit Séminaire of Montreal by the Suplician Order...
and the Petit Séminaire de Québec
Petit Séminaire de Québec
Le Petit Séminaire de Québec is a private French-language Roman Catholic secondary school in the Vieux-Québec area of Quebec City which was originally part of the Séminaire de Québec...
. He served in the militia defending the town of 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...
during the siege by the Americans
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1775-6. He participated in the campaign at Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
, becoming lieutenant, and was taken prisoner in 1777 at the Battle of Saratoga
Battle of Saratoga
The Battles of Saratoga conclusively decided the fate of British General John Burgoyne's army in the American War of Independence and are generally regarded as a turning point in the war. The battles were fought eighteen days apart on the same ground, south of Saratoga, New York...
. De Bonne continued to serve in the militia after this time, becoming colonel in 1809. He studied law at Montreal and qualified as a lawyer and notary
Civil law notary
Civil-law notaries, or Latin notaries, are lawyers of noncontentious private civil law who draft, take, and record legal instruments for private parties, provide legal advice and give attendance in person, and are vested as public officers with the authentication power of the State...
in 1780.
De Bonne inherited the seigneury of Sault-Sainte-Marie from his father; he acquired additional properties over the years. In 1781, he married Louise, daughter of Michel Chartier 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...
; they separated by mutual consent in 1782. In 1788, he was named a justice of the peace. De Bonne was a director of the Théâtre de Société, formed in Montreal in 1789. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada was the lower house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The legislative assembly was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791...
for York in 1792; he was elected again in Trois-Rivières in 1796 and then again in 1800. He was then elected in Quebec County in 1804, 1808 and 1809. In the assembly, de Bonne was among those supporting the use of French
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...
as well as English by the assembly. In 1794, he was named to the Executive Council, serving until his death. De Bonne helped found the newspaper Le Courier de Québec, which opposed the Parti canadien
Parti canadien
The Parti canadien or Parti patriote was a political party in what is now Quebec founded by members of the liberal elite of Lower Canada at the beginning of the 19th century...
.
In 1794, he was appointed judge in the Court of Common Pleas and in the Court of King’s Bench for Quebec district. As a judge, he supported the continued use of French
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...
civil law. The Parti canadien on a number of occasions attempted to introduced legislation prohibiting judges from sitting in the legislature; this was in part aimed at de Bonne. In 1809, Lieutenant-governor James Henry Craig
James Henry Craig
General Sir James Henry Craig KB was a British military officer and colonial administrator.-Early life and military service:...
dissolved parliament as a result. In 1810, the assembly voted to declare his seat vacant. Again, the governor dissolved parliament. De Bonne retired as a judge in 1812.
In 1805, de Bonne had married again after his first wife died in 1802. He died at his estate in Beauport
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...
in 1816 and apparently left his estate to a relative. His second wife was unable to secure a pension from the government after de Bonne's death and committed suicide in a hospital for the insane in 1848.