Joseph-Toussaint Drolet
Encyclopedia
Joseph-Toussaint Drolet was a merchant, seigneur
and political figure in Lower Canada
. He represented Verchères in the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
from 1832 to 1838 as a supporter of the Parti patriote.
He was born in Saint-Marc-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
, the son of Joseph-Charles Drolet and Brigitte Raynault, dit Blanchard. He entered business at Saint-Marc-sur-Richelieu with his father and later took over the operation of the business. He served as a captain in the militia during the War of 1812
, later becoming major. He married Sophie Boileau, the daughter of René Boileau. In 1825, Drolet acquired the seigneury of Cournoyer (also known as Saint-Marc). He was named a commissioner in charge of improving navigation on the Richelieu River
in 1829. He was first elected to the legislative assembly in an 1832 by-election held after François-Xavier Malhiot
was named to the legislative council. Drolet voted in support of the Ninety-Two Resolutions
. A local leader in the Lower Canada Rebellion
, he was arrested in December 1837 and released in June the following year. Drolet died in his residence at Saint-Marc-sur-Richelieu at the age of 52.
His daughter Lucille married Louis Giard, later a key official in the field of education in Quebec.
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 represented Verchères 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...
from 1832 to 1838 as a supporter of the Parti patriote.
He was born in Saint-Marc-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
Saint-Marc-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
Saint-Marc-sur-Richelieu is a municipality in southwestern Quebec, Canada, on the Richelieu River in the Regional County Municipality of La Vallée-du-Richelieu. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 1,876.-Population:Population trend...
, the son of Joseph-Charles Drolet and Brigitte Raynault, dit Blanchard. He entered business at Saint-Marc-sur-Richelieu with his father and later took over the operation of the business. He served as a captain in the 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...
, later becoming major. He married Sophie Boileau, the daughter of René Boileau. In 1825, Drolet acquired the seigneury of Cournoyer (also known as Saint-Marc). He was named a commissioner in charge of improving navigation on the Richelieu River
Richelieu River
The Richelieu River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows from the north end of Lake Champlain about north, ending at the confluence with the St. Lawrence River at Sorel-Tracy, Quebec downstream and northeast of Montreal...
in 1829. He was first elected to the legislative assembly in an 1832 by-election held after François-Xavier Malhiot
François-Xavier Malhiot
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...
was named to the legislative council. Drolet 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....
. A local leader 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...
, he was arrested in December 1837 and released in June the following year. Drolet died in his residence at Saint-Marc-sur-Richelieu at the age of 52.
His daughter Lucille married Louis Giard, later a key official in the field of education in Quebec.