Louis de Lotbiniere-Harwood
Encyclopedia
Louis de Lotbiniere-Harwood (1866–1934) M.D., Canadian gynaecologist, Dean of Medicine at Laval University, President of the Medical Union of Canada, President of the Notre Dame Hospital and an Officier de Le Légion d'honneur
.
, April 27, 1866, he was the son of The Hon. Henry Stanislas Harwood
M.P., of Vaudreuil
, and his wife Josephine, daughter of Jean-Chrysostome Brauneis (1814–1871), organist, composer and teacher - the first Canadian composer to have studied music in Europe (1830–33). He was a nephew of Antoine Chartier de Lotbinière Harwood
, Robert Harwood
and Sir Henri Elzéar Taschereau
. Mr de Lotbiniere-Harwood's first cousin, Archibald Chaussegros de Lery MacDonald (1862–1939), was a founder of the Château Ramezay
Museum in Montreal
, and another married Canadian hero, Major-General Sir Sam Steele
.
Educated at the College de St. Therese, Montreal
, and then the Seminary
at Rigaud, Quebec
. In 1890, de Lotbiniere-Harwood graduated in medicine from Laval University. In 1894 he went to Europe to take a course of advanced studies, particularly gynaecology
. In France he had the opportunity to study under, and serve as the assistant to Samuel Jean de Pozzi
, who was then France's foremost gynaecologist.
near Paris.
He was widely regarded as the accredited international link between the English and French members of his profession, and France rewarded him for this by making him an officer of the Légion d'honneur
. He was one of the promoters of the conference of French-speaking members of the medical profession which was first held in Montreal and was attended by all the prominent French doctors of the day in Europe and America.
He held the offices of Dean of the Medical Faculty of Laval University (1918), Professor of Gynaecology
at the University of Montreal, Superintendent of the University Council, President of the Notre Dame Hospital, President of the Radium Institute, corresponding secretary of the Surgical Society of Paris, vice-president of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
, vice-president of the Association of French-speaking Doctors of North America, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
, member of the General Board of Examiners, President of the Medical Union of Canada and vice-president of the Cercle Universitaire. He was a director of and a contributor to L'Union Medicale du Canada for fifteen years. A contemporary at the University of Montreal (where some described him as the 'Father of Canadian Gynaecology') said of him,
A charming man, never reading, in no way devoted to letters, he yet possessed an untiring activity, a great ambition, a talent for action and government which made him a remarkable dean. One need not look for his writings, he wrote little. One need not analyse his teaching, he made scarcely more of this. But, with the help of his friends, he reorganised the Faculty of Medicine, accomplished the reconstruction of the Notre-Dame Hospital, and in the direction of the University of Montreal, he took a leading part... His charm and his distinguished manners had gained for him the respect of every one whom he met. His high stature, the dignity of his bearing, the distinction of his gesture commanded general attention... a gentleman with all the meaning that this word implies... Gifted with great executive ability, a nimble mind, tact and unusual charm of manner, he would seem to have been destined for pre-eminence in any station.
Breeders Association of Quebec, and his farm where he lived at Vaudreuil, 'Het Loo', was noted for its fine herd of Holstein-Friesian cattle.
He was married three times. His first wife and cousin was Marie-Berthe-Adéline Masson, grand-daughter of Joseph Masson
, and the stepdaughter of another of his relations, Sir Henri-Thomas Taschereau
, brother of Louis-Alexandre Taschereau
, Prime Minister of Quebec. She died in Paris, 1904, and they were the parents of two sons, Robert and William de Lotbiniere-Harwood, and two daughters, Mrs Bernard de Languedoc and Mrs Charles F.C. Porteous. By his third wife, Marie-Berthe Brosseau, the daughter of Lt.-Colonel Julien Brosseau (1837–1912), he left two children, Pierre, who married a Melchers, and Marie-Berthe de Lotbiniere-Harwood. His youngest daughter was married firstly to William Campbell James Meredith
(1904–1960), Dean of Law at McGill University
, the son of Frederick Edmund Meredith
. She married secondly Cyril Bertram Mills (1902–1991), circus owner and spymaster of Juan Pujol, the son of Bertram Mills
. Dr Louis de Lotbiniere-Harwood died suddenly at his Montreal home, 15 May 1934 and is buried at Mount Royal Cemetery
, Montreal.
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
.
Early life
Born at VaudreuilVaudreuil-Soulanges Regional County Municipality, Quebec
-References:...
, April 27, 1866, he was the son of The Hon. Henry Stanislas Harwood
Henry Stanislas Harwood
The Hon. Henry Stanislas de Lotbiniere Harwood was a Quebec farmer and political figure. He represented Vaudreuil in the Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal member from 1891 to 1892 and 1893 to 1904....
M.P., of Vaudreuil
Vaudreuil
-Places:Canada* Vaudreuil-Dorion, a city located west of Montreal, Quebec* Terrasse-Vaudreuil, Quebec, a small Quebec municipality located near Montreal* Vaudreuil-Soulanges Regional County Municipality, Quebec...
, and his wife Josephine, daughter of Jean-Chrysostome Brauneis (1814–1871), organist, composer and teacher - the first Canadian composer to have studied music in Europe (1830–33). He was a nephew of Antoine Chartier de Lotbinière Harwood
Antoine Chartier de Lotbinière Harwood
Antoine Chartier de Lotbinière Harwood was a Quebec lawyer and political figure. He represented Vaudreuil in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1867 to 1871....
, Robert Harwood
Robert Harwood
Robert William de Lotbinière-Harwood was a Quebec landowner and political figure representing Vaudreuil in the Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal-Conservative member from 1872 to 1878.-Career:...
and Sir Henri Elzéar Taschereau
Henri Elzéar Taschereau
Sir Henri-Elzéar Taschereau, PC was a Canadian jurist and Chief Justice of Canada.He was born in his family's seigneurial manor house at Sainte-Marie-de-la-Beauce, Lower Canada to Pierre-Elzéar Taschereau and Catherine Hénédine Dionne. Tashereau attended the Université Laval and was called to the...
. Mr de Lotbiniere-Harwood's first cousin, Archibald Chaussegros de Lery MacDonald (1862–1939), was a founder of the Château Ramezay
Château Ramezay
The Château Ramezay is a museum and historic building on Notre-Dame Street in Old Montreal, opposite Montreal City Hall.Built in 1705 as the residence of then-governor of Montreal, Claude de Ramezay, the Château was the first building proclaimed as a historical monument in Quebec and is the...
Museum 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...
, and another married Canadian hero, Major-General Sir Sam Steele
Sam Steele
Major General Sir Samuel Benfield Steele, CB, KCMG, MVO was a distinguished Canadian soldier and police official...
.
Educated at the College de St. Therese, 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 then the Seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
at Rigaud, Quebec
Rigaud, Quebec
Rigaud is a municipality in southwestern Quebec, Canada in the county of Vaudreuil-Soulanges at the junction of the Ottawa River and the Rigaud River. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 6,780...
. In 1890, de Lotbiniere-Harwood graduated in medicine from Laval University. In 1894 he went to Europe to take a course of advanced studies, particularly gynaecology
Gynaecology
Gynaecology or gynecology is the medical practice dealing with the health of the female reproductive system . Literally, outside medicine, it means "the science of women"...
. In France he had the opportunity to study under, and serve as the assistant to Samuel Jean de Pozzi
Samuel Jean de Pozzi
Samuel-Jean Pozzi was a French surgeon and gynecologist. He was also interested in anthropology and neurology.-Life:Samuel-Jean Pozzy was born in Bergerac, Dordogne to a family of Italian/Swiss descent. His father, Benjamin Dominique Pozzy, was a minister of the Reformed Church of France...
, who was then France's foremost gynaecologist.
Career
Returning to Montreal in 1896 de Lotbiniere-Harwood was appointed assistant gynaecologist at the Notre Dame Hospital under Dr Brennan, until Brennan's death in 1903 when he became the head gynaecologist. During the First World War he was the moving spirit in the patriotic effort resulting in the foundation of the General Military Hospital of Laval located at Joinville-le-PontJoinville-le-Pont
Joinville-le-Pont is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-History:The commune was created in 1791 under the name La Branche-du-Pont-de-Saint-Maur by detaching its territory from the commune of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés...
near Paris.
He was widely regarded as the accredited international link between the English and French members of his profession, and France rewarded him for this by making him an officer of the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
. He was one of the promoters of the conference of French-speaking members of the medical profession which was first held in Montreal and was attended by all the prominent French doctors of the day in Europe and America.
He held the offices of Dean of the Medical Faculty of Laval University (1918), Professor of Gynaecology
Gynaecology
Gynaecology or gynecology is the medical practice dealing with the health of the female reproductive system . Literally, outside medicine, it means "the science of women"...
at the University of Montreal, Superintendent of the University Council, President of the Notre Dame Hospital, President of the Radium Institute, corresponding secretary of the Surgical Society of Paris, vice-president of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada ' , French: Collège royal des médecins et chirurgiens du Canada, is a national, private, nonprofit organization established in 1929 by a special Act of Parliament to oversee the medical education of specialists in Canada...
, vice-president of the Association of French-speaking Doctors of North America, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons is an educational association of surgeons created in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice.-Membership:...
, member of the General Board of Examiners, President of the Medical Union of Canada and vice-president of the Cercle Universitaire. He was a director of and a contributor to L'Union Medicale du Canada for fifteen years. A contemporary at the University of Montreal (where some described him as the 'Father of Canadian Gynaecology') said of him,
A charming man, never reading, in no way devoted to letters, he yet possessed an untiring activity, a great ambition, a talent for action and government which made him a remarkable dean. One need not look for his writings, he wrote little. One need not analyse his teaching, he made scarcely more of this. But, with the help of his friends, he reorganised the Faculty of Medicine, accomplished the reconstruction of the Notre-Dame Hospital, and in the direction of the University of Montreal, he took a leading part... His charm and his distinguished manners had gained for him the respect of every one whom he met. His high stature, the dignity of his bearing, the distinction of his gesture commanded general attention... a gentleman with all the meaning that this word implies... Gifted with great executive ability, a nimble mind, tact and unusual charm of manner, he would seem to have been destined for pre-eminence in any station.
Family
His chief pastime was farming and cattle breeding. He was vice-president of the Holstein (cattle)Holstein (cattle)
Holstein cattle is a breed of cattle known today as the world's highest production dairy animal. Originating in Europe, Holsteins were bred in what is now the Netherlands and more specifically in the two northern provinces of North Holland and Friesland...
Breeders Association of Quebec, and his farm where he lived at Vaudreuil, 'Het Loo', was noted for its fine herd of Holstein-Friesian cattle.
He was married three times. His first wife and cousin was Marie-Berthe-Adéline Masson, grand-daughter of Joseph Masson
Joseph Masson
Joseph Masson was Canadian businessman, who is considered the first French Canadian millionaire.Seigneur of Terrebonne, Quebec, president of Masson societies, president of the City Gas, he was also vice-president of the Banque de Montréal, president of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society of Montreal...
, and the stepdaughter of another of his relations, Sir Henri-Thomas Taschereau
Henri-Thomas Taschereau
Sir Henri-Thomas Taschereau was a lawyer, politician and judge in Quebec, Canada.The son of Jean-Thomas Taschereau, Taschereau received his basic education at the Petit Séminaire de Québec from 1851 to 1859...
, brother of Louis-Alexandre Taschereau
Louis-Alexandre Taschereau
Louis-Alexandre Taschereau was a the 14th Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec from 1920 to 1936. He was elected four times, the first in 1900, in the riding of Montmorency. He was also a member of the Parti libéral du Québec...
, Prime Minister of Quebec. She died in Paris, 1904, and they were the parents of two sons, Robert and William de Lotbiniere-Harwood, and two daughters, Mrs Bernard de Languedoc and Mrs Charles F.C. Porteous. By his third wife, Marie-Berthe Brosseau, the daughter of Lt.-Colonel Julien Brosseau (1837–1912), he left two children, Pierre, who married a Melchers, and Marie-Berthe de Lotbiniere-Harwood. His youngest daughter was married firstly to William Campbell James Meredith
William Campbell James Meredith
William Campbell James Meredith Q.C., D.C.L., often known as W. C. J. Meredith, was a Canadian attorney and Dean of Law at McGill University. He was born in Montreal, Quebec the son of Frederick Edmund Meredith and Anne Madeline VanKoughnet Meredith...
(1904–1960), Dean of Law at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, the son of Frederick Edmund Meredith
Frederick Edmund Meredith
Frederick Edmund Meredith K.C., D.C.L. was a Canadian lawyer and businessman, the 8th Chancellor of Bishop's University, Lennoxville; honorary President of the Montreal Victorias for three of their Stanley Cup championships in the late 1890s, and Chief Counsel to the CPR at the inquest into the...
. She married secondly Cyril Bertram Mills (1902–1991), circus owner and spymaster of Juan Pujol, the son of Bertram Mills
Bertram Mills
Bertram Wagstaff Mills was a British circus owner who ran the Bertram Mills Circus. Originally from Paddington, London, his circus became famous in the UK for its Christmas shows at Olympia in West London...
. Dr Louis de Lotbiniere-Harwood died suddenly at his Montreal home, 15 May 1934 and is buried at Mount Royal Cemetery
Mount Royal Cemetery
Opened in 1852, Mount Royal Cemetery is a 165-acre terraced cemetery on the north slope of Mount Royal in the borough of Outremont, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The burial ground shares the mountain with the much larger adjacent Roman Catholic cemetery -- Cimetière Notre-Dame-des-Neiges...
, Montreal.