Jean-Louis Beaudry
Encyclopedia
Jean-Louis Beaudry was a Canadian
entrepreneur and politician. Beaudry served as mayor of Montreal
three times, from 1862 to 1866, from 1877 to 1879, and from 1881 to 1885 for a total time served as mayor of ten years.
, he was raised and worked on the family farm. After working as a clerk and shopkeeper, Beaudry opened a dry goods store with his brother in 1834. Beaudry became increasingly politically active. In 1827 he signed a petition in opposition to the proposed union of the upper and lower Canadas. In 1837 he became one of the vice presidents of the Société des Fils de la Liberté
. When the Rebellions of 1837
occurred, Beaudry fled temporarily to the United States
. He returned in June 1838 and resumed his business dealings which flourished.
. In 1862 he ran for mayor of Montreal
and won. He was easily re-elected through 1885. He declined to run for a couple of years, but ran again in 1868 against William Workman
. During the campaign Beaudry turned off voters with religious and negative overtones. Beaudry did not run for mayor again until 1877, where he won, and again in 1878. However in 1879 he lost in a fierce campaign against Sévère Rivard
. Beaudry was once again re-elected from 1881 through 1885. His younger brother Prudent Beaudry
was mayor of Los Angeles (1874-1876).
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...
entrepreneur and politician. Beaudry served as mayor of Montreal
Mayor of Montreal
The Mayor of Montreal is head of the executive branch of Montreal City Council.The Mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and provincial laws within Montreal....
three times, from 1862 to 1866, from 1877 to 1879, and from 1881 to 1885 for a total time served as mayor of ten years.
Early life
Born in Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, QuebecQuebec
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....
, he was raised and worked on the family farm. After working as a clerk and shopkeeper, Beaudry opened a dry goods store with his brother in 1834. Beaudry became increasingly politically active. In 1827 he signed a petition in opposition to the proposed union of the upper and lower Canadas. In 1837 he became one of the vice presidents of the Société des Fils de la Liberté
Société des Fils de la Liberté
The Société des Fils de la Liberté was a paramilitary organization founded in August of 1837 in Lower Canada by young supporters of the Parti patriote who became impatient with the pace of progress of the movement for constitutional and parliamentary reforms...
. When the Rebellions of 1837
Rebellions of 1837
The Rebellions of 1837 were a pair of Canadian armed uprisings that occurred in 1837 and 1838 in response to frustrations in political reform. A key shared goal was the allowance of responsible government, which was eventually achieved in the incident's aftermath.-Rebellions:The rebellions started...
occurred, Beaudry fled temporarily to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He returned in June 1838 and resumed his business dealings which flourished.
Political career
Having established himself as a successful businessman, in 1860 Beaudry ran and was elected councillorCouncillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
. In 1862 he ran for mayor of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and won. He was easily re-elected through 1885. He declined to run for a couple of years, but ran again in 1868 against William Workman
William Workman
William Workman was an Irish-born Canadian businessman and municipal politician.- Biography :Workman migrated to Montreal, Quebec in 1829....
. During the campaign Beaudry turned off voters with religious and negative overtones. Beaudry did not run for mayor again until 1877, where he won, and again in 1878. However in 1879 he lost in a fierce campaign against Sévère Rivard
Sévère Rivard
Sévère-Dominique Rivard was a Canadian lawyer and politician, the Mayor of Montreal, Quebec between 1879 and 1881....
. Beaudry was once again re-elected from 1881 through 1885. His younger brother Prudent Beaudry
Prudent Beaudry
Prudent Beaudry served as the 13th Mayor of Los Angeles, California from 1874 to 1876. A native of Quebec, he was the second French Canadian, and third French American mayor of Los Angeles.-Early life:...
was mayor of Los Angeles (1874-1876).
Notable Accomplishments
During his 10 years served as mayor of Montreal, Beaudry:- established fire and health departments
- inauguration of a City Hall on Notre-Dame Street
- was instrumental in keeping peace between the Protestants and Catholics through halting the Orange Order