Robert Taschereau
Encyclopedia
Robert Taschereau, CC
, PC
(September 10, 1896 – July 26, 1970) was a lawyer who became Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of Canada
and who briefly served as acting
Governor General of Canada
following the death of Georges Vanier
in 1967.
. He studied at Laval University and obtained a BA degree in 1916 and LLL in 1920.
Following a career as a lawyer, Taschereau entered politics as a Liberal and successfully won a seat in the Quebec National Assembly in 1930. He held his seat of the riding of Bellechasse
until retiring in 1936.
.
In 1946, he and fellow Justice Roy Kellock
conducted the Royal Commission on Spying Activities in Canada that had been prompted by the Gouzenko Affair.
Taschereau was promoted to Chief Justice in 1963.
According to the Canadian rules of succession, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is second-in-line to the Governor Generalship, and serves in an interim capacity until a new one can be recommended by the Prime Minister and chosen by the Queen.
Taschereau acted as Governor General from Vanier's death on March 5 to April 17, 1967 at which point Prime Minister Lester Pearson and the Queen appointed Roland Michener
as the new Governor General.
In 1967 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada
.
Robert Taschereau died in 1970 at the age of 73, and was interred in the family plot at the Cimetière Notre-Dame-de-Belmont
in Sainte-Foy, Quebec
.
His father, Louis-Alexandre Taschereau
, had been Premier of Quebec
and his grandfather, Jean-Thomas Taschereau
, also served on the Supreme Court of Canada
as an Associate Justice. Robert was more distantly related to Sir Henri Elzéar Taschereau
, who replaced Jean-Thomas on the Supreme Court and went on to serve as Chief Justice of Canada.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, PC
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
(September 10, 1896 – July 26, 1970) was a lawyer who became Chief Justice
Chief Justice of Canada
The Chief Justice of Canada, like the eight puisne Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada, is appointed by the Governor-in-Council . All nine are chosen from either sitting judges or barristers who have at least ten years' standing at the bar of a province or territory...
of the Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
and who briefly served as acting
Acting (law)
In law, when someone is said to be acting in a position it can mean one of three things.*The position has not yet been formally created.*The person is only occupying the position temporarily, to ensure continuity.*The person does not have a mandate....
Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
following the death of Georges Vanier
Georges Vanier
Major-General Georges-Philéas Vanier was a Canadian soldier and diplomat who served as Governor General of Canada, the 19th since Canadian Confederation....
in 1967.
Biography
He was born in QuebecQuebec
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....
. He studied at Laval University and obtained a BA degree in 1916 and LLL in 1920.
Following a career as a lawyer, Taschereau entered politics as a Liberal and successfully won a seat in the Quebec National Assembly in 1930. He held his seat of the riding of Bellechasse
Bellechasse (provincial electoral district)
Bellechasse is a provincial electoral riding in the province of Quebec, Canada. Located in the Chaudière-Appalaches region, the riding was created in 1867...
until retiring in 1936.
Jurist
On February 9, 1940, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada, filling the vacancy created by the death of his former law partner, Lawrence CannonLawrence Arthur Dumoulin Cannon
Lawrence Arthur Dumoulin Cannon was a Canadian lawyer, politician, and Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada....
.
In 1946, he and fellow Justice Roy Kellock
Roy Kellock
Roy Lindsay Kellock, was a Canadian Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. Born in Perth, Ontario, he graduated from McMaster University with a B.A. in 1915. Justice Kellock was called to bar in 1920 and appointed to the Court of Appeal for Ontario in 1942...
conducted the Royal Commission on Spying Activities in Canada that had been prompted by the Gouzenko Affair.
Taschereau was promoted to Chief Justice in 1963.
According to the Canadian rules of succession, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is second-in-line to the Governor Generalship, and serves in an interim capacity until a new one can be recommended by the Prime Minister and chosen by the Queen.
Taschereau acted as Governor General from Vanier's death on March 5 to April 17, 1967 at which point Prime Minister Lester Pearson and the Queen appointed Roland Michener
Roland Michener
Daniel Roland Michener , commonly known as Roland Michener, was a Canadian lawyer, politician, and diplomat who served as Governor General of Canada, the 20th since Canadian Confederation....
as the new Governor General.
Retirement and honours
Taschereau remained in the Supreme Court until retiring in 1967.In 1967 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
Robert Taschereau died in 1970 at the age of 73, and was interred in the family plot at the Cimetière Notre-Dame-de-Belmont
Cimetière Notre-Dame-de-Belmont
The Cimetière Notre-Dame-de-Belmont is located at 2176 avenue Chapdelaine in Quebec City in the province of Quebec, Canada. The cemetery was built between 1857 and 1859.-Notable interments:...
in Sainte-Foy, Quebec
Sainte-Foy, Quebec
Sainte-Foy is a former city in central Quebec, Canada on the Saint Lawrence River. It was amalgamated into Quebec City on January 1, 2002. Most of Sainte-Foy is in the Borough of Sainte-Foy–Sillery–Cap-Rouge....
.
His father, Louis-Alexandre Taschereau
Louis-Alexandre Taschereau
Louis-Alexandre Taschereau was a the 14th Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec from 1920 to 1936. He was elected four times, the first in 1900, in the riding of Montmorency. He was also a member of the Parti libéral du Québec...
, had been Premier of Quebec
Premier of Quebec
The Premier of Quebec is the first minister of the Canadian province of Quebec. The Premier is the province's head of government and his title is Premier and President of the Executive Council....
and his grandfather, Jean-Thomas Taschereau
Jean-Thomas Taschereau (jurist)
Jean-Thomas Taschereau was a Canadian lawyer and judge.Born in Quebec City, Lower Canada , the son of...
, also served on the Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
as an Associate Justice. Robert was more distantly related to Sir Henri Elzéar Taschereau
Henri Elzéar Taschereau
Sir Henri-Elzéar Taschereau, PC was a Canadian jurist and Chief Justice of Canada.He was born in his family's seigneurial manor house at Sainte-Marie-de-la-Beauce, Lower Canada to Pierre-Elzéar Taschereau and Catherine Hénédine Dionne. Tashereau attended the Université Laval and was called to the...
, who replaced Jean-Thomas on the Supreme Court and went on to serve as Chief Justice of Canada.