Félix Poutré
Encyclopedia
Félix Poutré was a French Canadian
patriot and spy, who became known both as a popular hero and an infamous traitor within Lower Canada
following his involvement in the Lower Canada Rebellion
.
After escaping from the Pied-du-Courant Prison
by allegedly feigning madness, Poutré published a pamphlet giving an account of his experiences, under the title Échappé de la potence (later translated in English as Escaped from the gallows). The work earned him considerable fame, his story being embodied in Louis-Honoré Fréchette
's historical play also entitled Félix Poutré (1892).
However, it was later revealed that Poutré served as a spy for the British
government, which he kept informed on the Patriot insurgents'
plans while they were in exile in the United States
and, later on, during their incarceration at the Pied-du-Courant Prison
. This came following the affirmation of Benjamin Sulte
that he had been an "employee of the government" and the disclosure by Gustave Lanctot
in 1913 of compromising documents, which unmasked him as a bogus patriote. His claims to having actively participated in patriot actions have been seriously questioned, and it is probable that he rather acted as an agent provocateur
on behalf of the British authorities.
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
patriot and spy, who became known both as a popular hero and an infamous traitor within 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...
following his involvement in 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...
.
After escaping from the Pied-du-Courant Prison
Pied-du-Courant Prison
The Pied-du-Courant Prison is a building in Montreal, Quebec near the Saint Lawrence River and the Jacques-Cartier Bridge.- Overview :A former prison, it now houses offices of the Société des alcools du Québec, the state-owned liquor board in Quebec. It saw the incarceration and execution by...
by allegedly feigning madness, Poutré published a pamphlet giving an account of his experiences, under the title Échappé de la potence (later translated in English as Escaped from the gallows). The work earned him considerable fame, his story being embodied in Louis-Honoré Fréchette
Louis-Honoré Fréchette
Louis-Honoré Fréchette, , was a Canadian poet, politician, playwright, and short story writer.-Biography:...
's historical play also entitled Félix Poutré (1892).
However, it was later revealed that Poutré served as a spy for the British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
government, which he kept informed on the Patriot insurgents'
Patriote movement
The Patriote movement was a political movement that existed in Lower Canada from the turning of the 19th century to the Patriote Rebellion of 1837 and 1838 and the subsequent Act of Union of 1840. It was politically embodied by the Parti patriote at the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada...
plans while they were in exile in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and, later on, during their incarceration at the Pied-du-Courant Prison
Pied-du-Courant Prison
The Pied-du-Courant Prison is a building in Montreal, Quebec near the Saint Lawrence River and the Jacques-Cartier Bridge.- Overview :A former prison, it now houses offices of the Société des alcools du Québec, the state-owned liquor board in Quebec. It saw the incarceration and execution by...
. This came following the affirmation of Benjamin Sulte
Benjamin Sulte
Benjamin Sulte , baptized Olivier-Benjamin Vadeboncœur, was a Canadian journalist, writer, civil servant, and historian....
that he had been an "employee of the government" and the disclosure by Gustave Lanctot
Gustave Lanctot
Gustave Lanctot, OC, FRSC, also spelled Gustave Lanctôt, was a Canadian historian and archivist.Born in Saint-Constant, Quebec, he studied law at Université de Montréal and was called to the Quebec Bar in 1907. A Rhodes Scholar, he studied political science and history from 1909 to 1911 while at...
in 1913 of compromising documents, which unmasked him as a bogus patriote. His claims to having actively participated in patriot actions have been seriously questioned, and it is probable that he rather acted as an agent provocateur
Agent provocateur
Traditionally, an agent provocateur is a person employed by the police or other entity to act undercover to entice or provoke another person to commit an illegal act...
on behalf of the British authorities.