Ludger Duvernay
Encyclopedia
Ludger Duvernay was born in Verchères
, Quebec
, Canada
.
He was a printer
by profession and published a number of newspapers including the Gazette des Trois-Rivières
, the first newspaper in Lower Canada outside of Quebec City and Montreal, and also La Minerve
, which supported the Parti patriote and Louis-Joseph Papineau
in the years leading up to the Lower Canada Rebellion
.
Duvernay was one of several journalists imprisoned early in 1832 for criticizing the non-elected legislative council that represented the interests of the Château Clique
. Duvernay, editor of La Minerve and Daniel Tracey
, another editor of the English language The Vindicator newspaper were arrested for libel and imprisoned together for 40 days for writing articles that said that “it is certain that before long all of America must be republican.” They were released after much public support and condemnation of the arrests. He was arrested by the authorities on four separate occasions.
On April 5, 1836, he fought in a duel with Clément-Charles Sabrevois de Bleury
, which ended with him being shot in the right knee
.
On June 9, 1843, Duvernay founded the Association Saint-Jean-Baptiste (today, the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste
and designated June 24 a day of celebration of Canadien history and culture. The society was previously known as the Société Aide-toi et le ciel t'aidera ("help yourself and Heaven will help you"), founded by Duvernay on March 8, 1834.
Duvernay was briefly a member of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
representing Lachenaie in 1837. When on November 16 Governor Gosford issued warrants for the arrest of 26 patriot leaders, Duvernay was on the list. He had however been warned that his arrest was imminent and fled in time to Burlington, Vermont
.
He returned to Montreal
in 1842 to resume publication of a more moderate La Minerve, which was at first sympathetic to Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine
and then later, George-Étienne Cartier
.
In 1922, June 24 became a public holiday in Quebec, and since 1977 it has been the national holiday of Quebec.
On his death in Montreal in 1852, 10,000 people attended his funeral. Duvernay was interred in the Cimetière Notre-Dame-des-Neiges.
Verchères, Quebec
Verchères is an off-island suburb of Montreal, in Montérégie, Quebec, located on the south bank of the Saint Lawrence River. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 5,243.- History :...
, Quebec
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....
, Canada
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...
.
He was a printer
Printer (publisher)
In publishing, printers are both companies providing printing services and individuals who directly operate printing presses. With the invention of the moveable type printing press by Johannes Gutenberg around 1450, printing—and printers—proliferated throughout Europe.Today, printers are found...
by profession and published a number of newspapers including the Gazette des Trois-Rivières
Le Nouvelliste (Quebec)
Le Nouvelliste is the Mauricie regional newspaper, based in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. It is part of the Gesca media conglomerate. It was part of the Parizeau Affair, a political affair of the 2003 Quebec general election.-External links:*...
, the first newspaper in Lower Canada outside of Quebec City and Montreal, and also La Minerve
La Minerve
La Minerve was a newspaper founded in Montreal, Lower Canada by Augustin-Norbert Morin to promote the political goals of Louis-Joseph Papineau's Parti patriote. It was notably directed by Ludger Duvernay in its earlier years. It existed from 1826 to 1837, and again from 1842 to May 27, 1899...
, which supported the Parti patriote and 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...
in the years leading up to 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...
.
Duvernay was one of several journalists imprisoned early in 1832 for criticizing the non-elected legislative council that represented the interests of the Château Clique
Château Clique
The Clique du Château or Château Clique was a group of wealthy families in Lower Canada in the early 19th century. They were the Lower Canadian equivalent of the Family Compact in Upper Canada...
. Duvernay, editor of La Minerve and Daniel Tracey
Daniel Tracey
Daniel Tracey born in Roscrea, Tipperary County, Ireland, was a doctor, journalist and Canadian politician.He arrived in the Province of Lower Canada with his younger siblings in 1825.-The Vindicator:...
, another editor of the English language The Vindicator newspaper were arrested for libel and imprisoned together for 40 days for writing articles that said that “it is certain that before long all of America must be republican.” They were released after much public support and condemnation of the arrests. He was arrested by the authorities on four separate occasions.
On April 5, 1836, he fought in a duel with Clément-Charles Sabrevois de Bleury
Clément-Charles Sabrevois de Bleury
Lieutenant Colonel Clément-Charles Sabrevois de Bleury was a Canadian soldier, lawyer, politician and newspaper founder.-Early life:...
, which ended with him being shot in the right knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
.
On June 9, 1843, Duvernay founded the Association Saint-Jean-Baptiste (today, the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society is an institution in Quebec dedicated to the protection of Quebec francophone interests and to the promotion of Quebec Sovereignism. Its current President is Mario Beaulieu....
and designated June 24 a day of celebration of Canadien history and culture. The society was previously known as the Société Aide-toi et le ciel t'aidera ("help yourself and Heaven will help you"), founded by Duvernay on March 8, 1834.
Duvernay was briefly a member of 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...
representing Lachenaie in 1837. When on November 16 Governor Gosford issued warrants for the arrest of 26 patriot leaders, Duvernay was on the list. He had however been warned that his arrest was imminent and fled in time to Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
.
He returned to 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 1842 to resume publication of a more moderate La Minerve, which was at first sympathetic to Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine
Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine
Sir Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine , 1st Baronet, KCMG was the first Canadian to become Prime Minister of the United Province of Canada and the first head of a responsible government in Canada. He was born in Boucherville, Lower Canada in 1807...
and then later, George-Étienne Cartier
George-Étienne Cartier
Sir George-Étienne Cartier, 1st Baronet, PC was a French-Canadian statesman and Father of Confederation.The English spelling of the name, George, instead of Georges, the usual French spelling, is explained by his having been named in honour of King George III....
.
In 1922, June 24 became a public holiday in Quebec, and since 1977 it has been the national holiday of Quebec.
On his death in Montreal in 1852, 10,000 people attended his funeral. Duvernay was interred in the Cimetière Notre-Dame-des-Neiges.
Newspapers, reviews
- Gazette des Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, 1817
- L'Ami de la religion et du roi, Trois-Rivières, 1820
- Le Constitutionnel, Trois-Rivières, 1823
- L'Argus, Trois-Rivières, 1826–1828
- Canadian Spectator, Montreal 1822-1829
- La Minerve, Montreal, 1826–1837 and 1842–1899
- Le Guide du cultivateur, ou Nouvel almanac de la température pour chaque jour de l'année, Montreal, 1830–1833
- Le Patriote Canadien, Montreal, 1839
- La Revue canadienne, Montreal, 1845–1848
Other
- "Liste des journaux publiés dans le Bas-Canada depuis 1764", in La Canadienne, Montreal, October 22, 1840 : 3–4
In English
- Jean-Marie Lebel. "Duvernay, Ludger", in Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online, University of Toronto, Université Laval, 2000
- Abidor, Mitch. "The Patriotes Rebellion", in Marxists.org
In French
- Donald Prémont. "Duvernay, Ludger (1799-1852)", in the site Les Patriotes de 1837@1838, May 20, 2000
- Denis Monières. Ludger Duvernay et la révolution intellectuelle au Bas-Canada, Montréal : Éditions Québec/Amérique, 1987, 231 p.
- Jean-Marie Lebel. Ludger Duvernay et La Minerve. Étude d'une entreprise de presse montréalaise de la première moitié du XIXe siècle, Université Laval, 1982, 212 p.
- Robert Rumilly. Histoire de la Société Saint-Jean Baptiste de Montréal. Des patriotes au fleurdelisé, Montréal : Éditions de l'Aurore, 1975, 564 p.
See also
- History of QuebecHistory of QuebecQuebec has played a special role in Canadian history; it is the site where French settlers founded the colony of Canada in the 17th and 18th centuries.-Paleoindian Era :...
- Saint-Jean-Baptiste SocietySaint-Jean-Baptiste SocietyThe Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society is an institution in Quebec dedicated to the protection of Quebec francophone interests and to the promotion of Quebec Sovereignism. Its current President is Mario Beaulieu....