François-Xavier Malhiot
Encyclopedia
François-Xavier Malhiot was a merchant, seigneur
and political figure in Lower Canada
.
He was born François-Xavier-Amable Malhiot at Verchères
, Quebec
in 1781, the son of François Malhiot
. Malhiot joined the Royal Canadian Volunteer Regiment as an officer and later became a lieutenant-colonel in the militia, serving during the War of 1812
. In 1804, with one of his brothers, he took over the family business. In 1805, he married Julie Laperière and inherited land in the seigneury of Contrecoeur after the death of his father-in-law in 1807; he became principal seigneur in 1818. In 1814, he purchased land in the seigneury of Saint-Ours.
Malhiot was elected to represent Richelieu in the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
in an 1815 by-election held after an earlier election was declared invalid. In 1828, he was elected for Surrey in a by-election held after Louis-Joseph Papineau
, who had been elected in two different ridings, chose to sit for Montreal West. In 1828, Malhiot was dismissed from his position in the militia by Lord Dalhousie
after he supported resolutions critical of the governor's behaviour. He was elected to represent Verchères (formerly Surrey) in 1830 but resigned his seat in 1832 after he was named to the Legislative Council
. Malhiot did not support those who took up arms against the authorities during the Lower Canada Rebellion
. He sold his seigneury in 1846 and retired to Boucherville
, where he died in 1854.
His son Charles-Christophe
later became a member of the Canadian Senate.
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:...
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 François-Xavier-Amable Malhiot at Verchères
Verchères, Quebec
Verchères is an off-island suburb of Montreal, in Montérégie, Quebec, located on the south bank of the Saint Lawrence River. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 5,243.- History :...
, Quebec
Province of Quebec (1763-1791)
The Province of Quebec was a colony in North America created by Great Britain after the Seven Years' War. Great Britain acquired Canada by the Treaty of Paris when King Louis XV of France and his advisors chose to keep the territory of Guadeloupe for its valuable sugar crops instead of New France...
in 1781, the son of François Malhiot
François Malhiot
François Malhiot was a businessman and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born at Montreal in 1733, the son of Jean-François Malhiot. In 1768, he married his cousin Élisabeth, the daughter of Ignace Gamelin, and settled at Verchères. He sold dry goods, lent money for mortgages and speculated...
. Malhiot joined the Royal Canadian Volunteer Regiment as an officer and later became a lieutenant-colonel in the militia, serving during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. In 1804, with one of his brothers, he took over the family business. In 1805, he married Julie Laperière and inherited land in the seigneury of Contrecoeur after the death of his father-in-law in 1807; he became principal seigneur in 1818. In 1814, he purchased land in the seigneury of Saint-Ours.
Malhiot was elected to represent Richelieu in 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...
in an 1815 by-election held after an earlier election was declared invalid. In 1828, he was elected for Surrey in a by-election held after Louis-Joseph Papineau
Louis-Joseph Papineau
Louis-Joseph Papineau , born in Montreal, Quebec, was a politician, lawyer, and the landlord of the seigneurie de la Petite-Nation. He was the leader of the reformist Patriote movement before the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837–1838. His father was Joseph Papineau, also a famous politician in Quebec...
, who had been elected in two different ridings, chose to sit for Montreal West. In 1828, Malhiot was dismissed from his position in the militia by Lord Dalhousie
George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie
General George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie GCB , styled Lord Ramsay until 1787, was a Scottish soldier and colonial administrator...
after he supported resolutions critical of the governor's behaviour. He was elected to represent Verchères (formerly Surrey) in 1830 but resigned his seat in 1832 after he was named to the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Lower Canada
The Legislative Council of Lower Canada was the upper house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The upper house consisted of appointed councillors who voted on bills passed up by the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada. The legislative council was...
. Malhiot did not support those who took up arms against the authorities during the Lower Canada Rebellion
Lower Canada Rebellion
The Lower Canada Rebellion , commonly referred to as the Patriots' War by Quebeckers, is the name given to the armed conflict between the rebels of Lower Canada and the British colonial power of that province...
. He sold his seigneury in 1846 and retired to Boucherville
Boucherville, Quebec
Boucherville is a city in the Montérégie region in Quebec, Canada. It is a suburb of Montreal on the South shore of the Saint Lawrence River....
, where he died in 1854.
His son Charles-Christophe
Charles-Christophe Malhiot
Charles-Christophe Malhiot was a doctor and a member of the Senate of Canada from 1867 until his death....
later became a member of the Canadian Senate.