Charles-Honoré Laverdière
Encyclopedia
Charles-Honoré Cauchon dit Laverdière (23 October 1826–10 March 1873) was a French-Canadian priest and historian.
, East of Quebec City
, on 23 October 1826. His parents, Charles Cauchon, dit Laverdière (Laverdière never used Cauchon as his family name) and Théotiste Cauchon, were farmers. He studied at the Séminaire de Québec from 1840 onward, and proved brilliant, being promoted to assistant professor of physics
and collaborating to the foundation of the student newspaper, through which he published several collections of canticles. He was ordained in 1851.
Laverdière never did any parish duty, and would dedicate his life to teaching and scholarly work. Soon after his ordination he was officially appointed to the Seminary, and taught there until he was appointed to the chair of history at Université Laval
in 1863, succeeding to Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Ferland
(who had just been promoted to dean of the faculty, and died in 1865). In the meantime and in addition to his teaching duties at the seminary, he acted as de facto deputy librarian at the university and, in 1858, actual librarian. Laverdière also had an interest in archeology, though he worked relatively little in that area.
Laverdière published a number of works that are recognized for their outstanding quality. He participated in the 1858 publication of the Relations des Jésuites de la Nouvelle-France
, for which he contributed a synoptic table of contents
. His 1869 Histoire du Canada was used until the end of the century, and was described as "very accurate in relation to the historical knowledge of the time", but "severely judged from a pedagogical and literary point of view". It is a rare example of a French-Canadian school manual directly touting its nihil obstat
. That same year he edited the second volume of Ferland's Cours d'histoire du Canada. His major works, however, remain the 1870 annotated edition of the compiled works of Samuel de Champlain
. Œuvres de Champlain attracted considerable attention, and is still considered an important work, although Laverdière's opinion that the Jesuits had falsified the 1632 edition of Champlain remains controversial. Laverdière's other major work was the edition, in collaboration with Henri-Raymond Casgrain
, of the Journal des Jésuites. When most prints of an early edition of that work were destroyed, Laverdière commented that it would merely mean that some misprints could be corrected for the next printing. He was abruptly stricken by apoplexy
while discussing details of a new edition at a printing house on 10 March 1873.
An almost obsessive attention to detail (he could spend an entire day checking a single fact) marked Laverdière's work. An amiable man "of medium height, with keen black eyes, tanned complexion and square shoulders," he devoted his life to historical scholarship. His work, alongside that of other historians of the time like Narcisse-Eutrope Dionne and Louis-Philippe Turcotte, marked a revival of interest for history in late 19th century Quebec. Laverdière's papers are part of the collections of the Musée de la Civilisation
.
Biography
Laverdière was born in Château-RicherChâteau-Richer, Quebec
Château-Richer is a small town situated in the Capitale-Nationale region of Quebec, Canada. Located on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River east of Quebec City, Château-Richer is the seat for the Côte-de-Beaupré Regional County Municipality....
, East of Quebec City
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...
, on 23 October 1826. His parents, Charles Cauchon, dit Laverdière (Laverdière never used Cauchon as his family name) and Théotiste Cauchon, were farmers. He studied at the Séminaire de Québec from 1840 onward, and proved brilliant, being promoted to assistant professor of physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
and collaborating to the foundation of the student newspaper, through which he published several collections of canticles. He was ordained in 1851.
Laverdière never did any parish duty, and would dedicate his life to teaching and scholarly work. Soon after his ordination he was officially appointed to the Seminary, and taught there until he was appointed to the chair of history at Université Laval
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
in 1863, succeeding to Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Ferland
Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Ferland
Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Ferland was a French Canadian historian.-Life:He studied at the college of Nicolet and was ordained 1828. He ministered to country parishes until 1841, when he was made director of studies in the college of Nicolet. He became its superior in 1848...
(who had just been promoted to dean of the faculty, and died in 1865). In the meantime and in addition to his teaching duties at the seminary, he acted as de facto deputy librarian at the university and, in 1858, actual librarian. Laverdière also had an interest in archeology, though he worked relatively little in that area.
Laverdière published a number of works that are recognized for their outstanding quality. He participated in the 1858 publication of the Relations des Jésuites de la Nouvelle-France
Relations des Jésuites de la Nouvelle-France
The Jesuit Relations, also known as The Relations des Jesuites de la Nouvelle-France, are early ethnographic documents that chronicle Jesuit missions in New France...
, for which he contributed a synoptic table of contents
Table of contents
A table of contents, usually headed simply "Contents" and abbreviated informally as TOC, is a list of the parts of a book or document organized in the order in which the parts appear...
. His 1869 Histoire du Canada was used until the end of the century, and was described as "very accurate in relation to the historical knowledge of the time", but "severely judged from a pedagogical and literary point of view". It is a rare example of a French-Canadian school manual directly touting its nihil obstat
Nihil obstat
Nihil obstat is a declaration of no objection to an initiative or an appointment....
. That same year he edited the second volume of Ferland's Cours d'histoire du Canada. His major works, however, remain the 1870 annotated edition of the compiled works of Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain , "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat, and chronicler. He founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608....
. Œuvres de Champlain attracted considerable attention, and is still considered an important work, although Laverdière's opinion that the Jesuits had falsified the 1632 edition of Champlain remains controversial. Laverdière's other major work was the edition, in collaboration with Henri-Raymond Casgrain
Henri-Raymond Casgrain
Henri-Raymond Casgrain was a French Canadian Roman Catholic priest, author, publisher, and historian. He is the author of some of the best works in Quebec literature....
, of the Journal des Jésuites. When most prints of an early edition of that work were destroyed, Laverdière commented that it would merely mean that some misprints could be corrected for the next printing. He was abruptly stricken by apoplexy
Apoplexy
Apoplexy is a medical term, which can be used to describe 'bleeding' in a stroke . Without further specification, it is rather outdated in use. Today it is used only for specific conditions, such as pituitary apoplexy and ovarian apoplexy. In common speech, it is used non-medically to mean a state...
while discussing details of a new edition at a printing house on 10 March 1873.
An almost obsessive attention to detail (he could spend an entire day checking a single fact) marked Laverdière's work. An amiable man "of medium height, with keen black eyes, tanned complexion and square shoulders," he devoted his life to historical scholarship. His work, alongside that of other historians of the time like Narcisse-Eutrope Dionne and Louis-Philippe Turcotte, marked a revival of interest for history in late 19th century Quebec. Laverdière's papers are part of the collections of the Musée de la Civilisation
Musée de la civilisation
The Musée de la civilisation is a museum located in Quebec City. It is situated in old Québec near the Saint Lawrence River...
.