Louis Massue
Encyclopedia
Louis Massue was a businessman and political figure in Canada East
.
He was born Louis-Joseph Massue in Varennes
in 1786, the son of the co-seigneur
of Varennes. He became a prosperous merchant in the import and dry goods trade at Quebec City
. In 1818, he was named to the board of governors for the Quebec Bank
. Massue helped found the Quebec Fire Insurance Company and was president of the Canadian Fire Insurance Company. In 1840, he retired from business. Massue served on the city council for Quebec from 1841 to 1846. He did not support the Lower Canada Rebellion
but also opposed the Union of Upper
and Lower Canada
that followed. In 1843, he was named to the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada
; he resigned in 1851 to become customs inspector at the Port of Quebec
. He suffered a series of financial losses around 1849, including personal liability as a director of the Quebec Bank for the failure of a merchant who owed money to the bank, which forced the sale of Massue's extensive property holdings.
He died at Quebec City in 1869.
His brother Aignan-Aimé Massue
served as a member of the legislative assembly for Lower Canada. His nephew, Louis Huet Massue
, later became a member of the Canadian House of Commons.
Canada East
Canada East was the eastern portion of the United Province of Canada. It consisted of the southern portion of the modern-day Canadian Province of Quebec, and was primarily a French-speaking region....
.
He was born Louis-Joseph Massue in Varennes
Varennes, Quebec
Varennes is an off-island suburb of Montreal, in southwestern Quebec, Canada on the Saint Lawrence River in the Regional County Municipality of Lajemmerais. The city is approximately 15 miles from Downtown Montreal. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 20,950...
in 1786, the son of the co-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:...
of Varennes. He became a prosperous merchant in the import and dry goods trade at Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
. In 1818, he was named to the board of governors for the Quebec Bank
Quebec Bank
Quebec Bank was founded on June 9, 1818 to meet a perceived need by some merchants and residents Quebec City. They wanted an alternative to the newly founded Bank of Montreal which they felt was inadequate for the needs of the province....
. Massue helped found the Quebec Fire Insurance Company and was president of the Canadian Fire Insurance Company. In 1840, he retired from business. Massue served on the city council for Quebec from 1841 to 1846. He did not support 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...
but also opposed 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
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...
that followed. In 1843, he was named to the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada
Legislative Council of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Council of the Province of Canada was the upper house 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 province of Ontario...
; he resigned in 1851 to become customs inspector at the Port of Quebec
Port of Quebec
The Port of Quebec is an inland port located in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. It is the oldest port in Canada, and the second largest in Quebec after the Port of Montreal.-History:...
. He suffered a series of financial losses around 1849, including personal liability as a director of the Quebec Bank for the failure of a merchant who owed money to the bank, which forced the sale of Massue's extensive property holdings.
He died at Quebec City in 1869.
His brother Aignan-Aimé Massue
Aignan-Aimé Massue
Aignan-Aimé Massue was a seigneur and political figure in Lower Canada. He represented Surrey in the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada from 1824 to 1827 as a supporter of the Parti patriote....
served as a member of the legislative assembly for Lower Canada. His nephew, Louis Huet Massue
Louis Huet Massue
Louis Huet Massue was a farmer, seigneur and political figure in Quebec. He represented Richelieu in the Canadian House of Commons from 1878 to 1887 as a Liberal-Conservative member....
, later became a member of the Canadian House of Commons.