François Legendre
Encyclopedia
François Legendre was a surveyor, seigneur
and political figure in Lower Canada
. His name sometimes appears as François d'Assise; his surname also appears as Le Gendre.
He was born at Sainte-Croix-de-Lotbinière
in 1763 and studied at the Petit Séminaire de Québec
. He apprenticed as a surveyor with Jeremiah McCarthy, qualified to practice in 1792 and set up practice at Gentilly
. In 1804, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
for Buckingham; he was reelected in 1809 and 1810. He married Marie-Anne, the daughter of seigneur Louis Proulx
, in 1810. Legendre served as lieutenant-colonel in the local militia during the War of 1812
. He was named justice of the peace in 1820 and he served as commissioner for several public works projects in the region. In 1828, he received the seigneuries of La Lussodière and Saint-François from his father-in-law.
He died at Gentilly in 1853.
His brother Louis
also represented Buckingham in the legislative assembly. His son François-Félix also became a surveyor and married Marie-Reine, the daughter of Joseph-Édouard Turcotte
; their son Napoléon Legendre became a lawyer, journalist and author.
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...
. His name sometimes appears as François d'Assise; his surname also appears as Le Gendre.
He was born at Sainte-Croix-de-Lotbinière
Sainte-Croix, Quebec
Sainte-Croix is a municipality in and the seat of the Municipalité régionale de comté de Lotbinière in Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Chaudière-Appalaches region and the population is 2,433 as of 2009...
in 1763 and studied at the Petit Séminaire de Québec
Petit Séminaire de Québec
Le Petit Séminaire de Québec is a private French-language Roman Catholic secondary school in the Vieux-Québec area of Quebec City which was originally part of the Séminaire de Québec...
. He apprenticed as a surveyor with Jeremiah McCarthy, qualified to practice in 1792 and set up practice at Gentilly
Bécancour, Quebec
Bécancour is a town in the Centre-du-Québec region of Québec, Canada; it is the seat of the Bécancour Regional County Municipality. It is located on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River at the confluence of the Bécancour River, opposite Trois-Rivières.Wôlinak, an Abenaki Indian reserve, is...
. In 1804, 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 Buckingham; he was reelected in 1809 and 1810. He married Marie-Anne, the daughter of seigneur Louis Proulx
Louis Proulx
Louis Proulx was a seigneur, businessman and political figure in Lower Canada. His surname also sometimes appears as Proust or Prou....
, in 1810. Legendre served as lieutenant-colonel in the local militia 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...
. He was named justice of the peace in 1820 and he served as commissioner for several public works projects in the region. In 1828, he received the seigneuries of La Lussodière and Saint-François from his father-in-law.
He died at Gentilly in 1853.
His brother Louis
Louis Legendre (Lower Canada politician)
Louis Legendre was a land surveyor and politician in Lower Canada. He represented Buckinghamshire in the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada from 1808 to 1809. His name also appears as Louis Le Gendre....
also represented Buckingham in the legislative assembly. His son François-Félix also became a surveyor and married Marie-Reine, the daughter of Joseph-Édouard Turcotte
Joseph-Édouard Turcotte
Joseph-Édouard Turcotte was a lawyer and political figure in Canada East.He was born in Gentilly, Lower Canada in 1808. He studied at the Séminaire de Nicolet. In 1831, he lost his right arm in an accident. Deciding not to pursue a future in the priesthood, he studied law with Elzéar Bédard and...
; their son Napoléon Legendre became a lawyer, journalist and author.