François-Xavier Tessier
Encyclopedia
François-Xavier Tessier was a doctor, publisher and political figure in Lower Canada
.
He was born in the town of Quebec
in 1799. He studied medicine for several years and was qualified to practice as a surgeon in 1820. At the recommendation of the medical board of examiners, he studied medicine at a university in New York
and was qualified as a doctor in 1823. In the same year, he was named apothecary for the Quebec Emigrant Hospital. In 1824, he was named assistant surgeon for the militia. In 1826, he established a bimonthly medical publication, Quebec Medical Journal/Journal de médecine de Québec; it was published until the fall of 1827. He helped found the Quebec Medical Society in 1826 and later served as its president.
Tessier lived in New York City
from 1828 to 1830, where he contributed to a local newspaper. In 1830, he returned to Quebec where he was named health officer for the port. Tessier was also named administrator for a new hospital at Pointe-Lévy
. He was fired from his posts at Quebec following the cholera
epidemic of 1832; this may have been at least partly due to Tessier's politics. In 1831, Tessier was elected to the Quebec boards of medical examiners. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
for Saguenay in an 1833 by-election held after the death of Joseph-Isidore Bédard
; he was reelected in 1834. Tessier supported the parti patriote and voted in support of the Ninety-Two Resolutions
. In 1834, he was selected as physician for the Marine and Emigrant Hospital. He had also taught medicine and set up a clinic to vaccinate against smallpox
in his home.
He died in office at Quebec City in 1835.
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 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...
in 1799. He studied medicine for several years and was qualified to practice as a surgeon in 1820. At the recommendation of the medical board of examiners, he studied medicine at a university in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and was qualified as a doctor in 1823. In the same year, he was named apothecary for the Quebec Emigrant Hospital. In 1824, he was named assistant surgeon for the militia. In 1826, he established a bimonthly medical publication, Quebec Medical Journal/Journal de médecine de Québec; it was published until the fall of 1827. He helped found the Quebec Medical Society in 1826 and later served as its president.
Tessier lived in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from 1828 to 1830, where he contributed to a local newspaper. In 1830, he returned to Quebec where he was named health officer for the port. Tessier was also named administrator for a new hospital at Pointe-Lévy
Lévis, Quebec
Lévis is a city in eastern Quebec, Canada. It is located on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, opposite Quebec City. A ferry links Old Quebec with Old Lévis, and two bridges, the Quebec Bridge and the Pierre Laporte Bridge, connect western Lévis with Quebec City. The Société de transport de...
. He was fired from his posts at Quebec following the cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
epidemic of 1832; this may have been at least partly due to Tessier's politics. In 1831, Tessier was elected to the Quebec boards of medical examiners. 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 Saguenay in an 1833 by-election held after the death of Joseph-Isidore Bédard
Joseph-Isidore Bédard
Joseph-Isidore Bédard was a lawyer and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in Quebec City in 1806, the son of Pierre-Stanislas Bédard, and studied at the Séminaire de Nicolet. He articled in law with Georges-Barthélemi Faribault and was called to the bar in 1829...
; he was reelected in 1834. Tessier supported the parti patriote and voted in support of the Ninety-Two Resolutions
Ninety-Two Resolutions
The Ninety-Two Resolutions were drafted by Louis-Joseph Papineau and other members of the Parti patriote of Lower Canada in 1834. The resolutions were a long series of demands for political reforms in the British-governed colony....
. In 1834, he was selected as physician for the Marine and Emigrant Hospital. He had also taught medicine and set up a clinic to vaccinate against smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
in his home.
He died in office at Quebec City in 1835.