Louis-Michel Viger
Encyclopedia
Louis-Michel Viger was a Quebec
lawyer, businessman, seigneur
and political figure.
He was born in Montreal
in 1785 and studied at the Collège Saint-Raphaël
at the same time as his cousin, Louis-Joseph Papineau
. He articled in law with his cousin, Denis-Benjamin Viger
, was admitted to the bar in 1807 and set up practice in Montreal. Viger was a member of the local militia and served as a lieutenant during the War of 1812
. In 1824, he married Marie-Ermine, daughter of Louis Turgeon
, seigneur of Beaumont. In 1830, he was elected to represent Chambly in the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
as a member of the parti patriote
and voted for the Ninety-Two Resolutions
. He was elected again in 1834. In 1835, in partnership with Jacob De Witt
, he set up La Banque du Peuple to counter the Bank of Montreal
's monopoly in the province. Because he had played an important role in protest meetings organized before the Lower Canada Rebellion
, Viger was arrested in November 1837 and charged with treason. He was released in August 1838 and then jailed again for a short time later that same year. Viger protested against the union of Upper
and Lower Canada and the irregularities in the elections that followed. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly
for Nicolet
in an 1842 by-election. His wife had died in 1839 and, in 1843, he married Aurélie, the daughter of Joseph-Édouard Faribault
, who was then seigneur of L'Assomption after the death of her first husband. Viger was elected in Terrebonne in 1848; he served as receiver general in the Executive Council from 1848 to 1849, resigning when the capital moved from Montreal
to Toronto
. He was elected to the assembly again for Leinster in 1851.
He died of a stroke
in L'Assomption
in 1855 and was buried at Repentigny
.
Quebec
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....
lawyer, businessman, seigneur
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.
He was born in 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...
in 1785 and studied at the Collège Saint-Raphaël
Collège de Montréal
The Collège de Montréal is a private secondary school for students attending grades 7–11 located in Downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada. A former Roman Catholic Seminary, it was founded 1 June 1767 as the Petit Séminaire of Montreal by the Suplician Order...
at the same time as his cousin, Louis-Joseph Papineau
Louis-Joseph Papineau
Louis-Joseph Papineau , born in Montreal, Quebec, was a politician, lawyer, and the landlord of the seigneurie de la Petite-Nation. He was the leader of the reformist Patriote movement before the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837–1838. His father was Joseph Papineau, also a famous politician in Quebec...
. He articled in law with his cousin, Denis-Benjamin Viger
Denis-Benjamin Viger
Denis-Benjamin Viger was a 19th century Lower Canadian politician, lawyer, businessman, and Patriote movement member.Viger was part of the militia in the early 19th century and then a captain in the War of 1812...
, was admitted to the bar in 1807 and set up practice in Montreal. Viger was a member of the local militia and served as a lieutenant 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...
. In 1824, he married Marie-Ermine, daughter of Louis Turgeon
Louis Turgeon
Louis Turgeon was a notary, seigneur and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in Beaumont, Quebec in 1762, studied at the Petit Séminaire de Québec, articled as a notary and was licensed to practice in 1792. He set up his office at Saint-Charles near Quebec City. He was named a justice of...
, seigneur of Beaumont. In 1830, he was elected to represent Chambly 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...
as a member of the parti patriote
Parti canadien
The Parti canadien or Parti patriote was a political party in what is now Quebec founded by members of the liberal elite of Lower Canada at the beginning of the 19th century...
and voted for 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....
. He was elected again in 1834. In 1835, in partnership with Jacob De Witt
Jacob De Witt
Jacob De Witt was a Quebec businessman and political figure.He was born in Windham, Connecticut in 1785, of Dutch descent, and came to Montreal with his family around 1802. He set up a hardware business with a partner in 1814, opening his own business three years later...
, he set up La Banque du Peuple to counter the Bank of Montreal
Bank of Montreal
The Bank of Montreal , , or BMO Financial Group, is the fourth largest bank in Canada by deposits. The Bank of Montreal was founded on June 23, 1817 by John Richardson and eight merchants in a rented house in Montreal, Quebec. On May 19, 1817 the Articles of Association were adopted, making it...
's monopoly in the province. Because he had played an important role in protest meetings organized before 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...
, Viger was arrested in November 1837 and charged with treason. He was released in August 1838 and then jailed again for a short time later that same year. Viger protested against the union of Upper
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
and Lower Canada and the irregularities in the elections that followed. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada was the lower house of the legislature for the Province of Canada, which consisted of the former provinces of Lower Canada, then known as Canada East and later the province of Quebec, and Upper Canada, then known as Canada West and later the...
for Nicolet
Nicolet (electoral district)
Nicolet was a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1935.It was created by the British North America Act of 1867 which preserved existing electoral districts in Lower Canada. It consisted of the County of Nicolet. From 1903...
in an 1842 by-election. His wife had died in 1839 and, in 1843, he married Aurélie, the daughter of Joseph-Édouard Faribault
Joseph-Édouard Faribault
Joseph-Édouard Faribault was a notary and political figure in Lower Canada. He represented Leinster in the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada from 1808 to 1809....
, who was then seigneur of L'Assomption after the death of her first husband. Viger was elected in Terrebonne in 1848; he served as receiver general in the Executive Council from 1848 to 1849, resigning when the capital moved from 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...
to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. He was elected to the assembly again for Leinster in 1851.
He died of a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in L'Assomption
L'Assomption, Quebec
L'Assomption is an off-island suburb of Montreal, in southwestern Quebec, Canada on the L'Assomption River. It is the seat of the Regional County Municipality of L'Assomption. It is located on the outer fringes of the Montreal urban area....
in 1855 and was buried at Repentigny
Repentigny, Quebec
Repentigny is an off-island suburb of Montreal, in the province of Quebec, located north of Montreal, on the lower end of the L'Assomption River and on the Saint Lawrence River. Repentigny and Charlemagne are the first towns off the island of Montreal.-History:...
.