Eugène Fiset
Encyclopedia
Sir Marie-Joseph-Eugène Fiset, KCMG
(March 15, 1874 – June 8, 1951) was a Canadian
physician, military officer, Member of Parliament and the 18th Lieutenant Governor of Quebec
.
Born in Rimouski, Quebec
, the son of Jean-Baptiste Romuald Fiset
and Aimee Plamondon, Fiset was educated at Rimouski College and received a Bachelor of Arts degree and M.D. from Laval University. He joined the 89th Regiment at the age of 16. His military career continued during his studies, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant while a student. In 1899 he succeeded his father as surgeon to the 89th Regiment but, a few months later, joined the Second (Special Service) Battalion of The Royal Canadian Regiment
with the rank of major and saw service in the South African War.
With the end of his tour of duty in 1900, Fiset interned at the Nose and Throat Hospital in London and L'Hôpital Saint-Antoine in Paris.
After a year he returned to Rimouski before becoming an adjutant
in the Army Medical Service. In 1903 he was promoted to the rank of colonel and became Director-General of the service.
Fiset was promoted to major-general at the beginning of World War I
. He was knighted for his service in the war while the French government named him a Chevalier
of the Legion of Honour.
He retired in 1923 and began a political career sitting in the Canadian House of Commons
as the Liberal
MP for Rimouski
from 1924 until 1939.
On December 30, 1939, Fiset became lieutenant governor of Quebec. On two occasions during the war he opened the legislative assembly wearing his major general's uniform in order to express support for the war effort. He remained in office until October 1, 1950.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(March 15, 1874 – June 8, 1951) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
physician, military officer, Member of Parliament and the 18th Lieutenant Governor of Quebec
Lieutenant Governor of Quebec
The Lieutenant Governor of Quebec : Lieutenant-gouverneur du Québec, or : Lieutenant-gouverneure du Québec) is the viceregal representative in Quebec of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions...
.
Born in Rimouski, 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....
, the son of Jean-Baptiste Romuald Fiset
Jean-Baptiste Romuald Fiset
Jean-Baptiste Romuald Fiset was a Canadian physician and parliamentarian.Born in St-Cuthbert, Canada East, the son of Henri Fiset, he was educated at the Collège de Montréal and the Université Laval. Fiset practised medicine at Rimouski. He also served on the town council and was mayor of Rimouski...
and Aimee Plamondon, Fiset was educated at Rimouski College and received a Bachelor of Arts degree and M.D. from Laval University. He joined the 89th Regiment at the age of 16. His military career continued during his studies, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant while a student. In 1899 he succeeded his father as surgeon to the 89th Regiment but, a few months later, joined the Second (Special Service) Battalion of The Royal Canadian Regiment
The Royal Canadian Regiment
The Royal Canadian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. The regiment consists of four battalions, three in the Regular Force and one in the Primary Reserve...
with the rank of major and saw service in the South African War.
With the end of his tour of duty in 1900, Fiset interned at the Nose and Throat Hospital in London and L'Hôpital Saint-Antoine in Paris.
After a year he returned to Rimouski before becoming an adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
in the Army Medical Service. In 1903 he was promoted to the rank of colonel and became Director-General of the service.
Fiset was promoted to major-general at the beginning of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He was knighted for his service in the war while the French government named him a Chevalier
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
of the Legion of Honour.
He retired in 1923 and began a political career sitting in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
as the Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
MP for Rimouski
Rimouski (electoral district)
Rimouski was a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 2003....
from 1924 until 1939.
On December 30, 1939, Fiset became lieutenant governor of Quebec. On two occasions during the war he opened the legislative assembly wearing his major general's uniform in order to express support for the war effort. He remained in office until October 1, 1950.