Talbot Mercer Papineau
Encyclopedia
Talbot Mercer Papineau, MC
(25 March 1883 – 30 October 1917) was a lawyer and soldier from Quebec
, Canada
.
Born in Montebello, Quebec
, he was the son of Louis-Joseph Papineau (grandson of the Patriote leader Louis-Joseph Papineau
). However, Papineau was brought up a Protestant and had American roots. His mother, Caroline Rogers, was born in an influential family from Philadelphia. His upbringing was mainly in English. He was educated at the High School of Montreal and at McGill University
. In 1905, he was one of the first Canadians to receive a Rhodes Scholarship
, and subsequently studied law at Brasenose College, Oxford
. He also played ice hockey
for the Oxford Canadians. Returning to Montreal in 1908, he started practising law.
In August 1914, he enlisted with Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
and was commissioned a lieutenant. Through an exchange in newspapers in 1916 he argued with his cousin, the anti-imperialist nationalist
leader Henri Bourassa
, over support for the war and the British Empire
. Papineau's letter to Bourassa would eventually be published in The Times
of London. He was awarded the Military Cross
for his actions in Belgium and he eventually rose to the rank of major. He was hit by a shell
and killed during the Battle of Passchendaele near Ypres
on October 30, 1917.
In 1937 his mother presented an award in his honour to be presented annually by the Debating Union of his alma mater, McGill University.
He was one of the four Canadians featured in the book Tapestry of War: A Private View of Canadians in the Great War by Sandra Gwyn.
Papineau was portrayed by Justin Trudeau
in the CBC
movie The Great War
.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(25 March 1883 – 30 October 1917) was a lawyer and soldier from 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...
.
Born in Montebello, Quebec
Montebello, Quebec
Montebello is a municipality located in the Papineau Regional County Municipality of Western Quebec . As of the 2001 census, there were 1,039 permanent residents. The village has a total area of , and is located at the eastern edge of Canada's National Capital Region.The village is world famous for...
, he was the son of Louis-Joseph Papineau (grandson of the Patriote leader 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...
). However, Papineau was brought up a Protestant and had American roots. His mother, Caroline Rogers, was born in an influential family from Philadelphia. His upbringing was mainly in English. He was educated at the High School of Montreal and 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...
. In 1905, he was one of the first Canadians to receive a Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
, and subsequently studied law at Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
. He also played ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
for the Oxford Canadians. Returning to Montreal in 1908, he started practising law.
In August 1914, he enlisted with Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry is one of the three regular force infantry regiments of the Canadian Army. The regiment is composed of four battalions including a primary reserve battalion, for a total of 2,000 soldiers...
and was commissioned a lieutenant. Through an exchange in newspapers in 1916 he argued with his cousin, the anti-imperialist nationalist
Quebec nationalism
Quebec nationalism is a nationalist movement in the Canadian province of Quebec .-1534–1774:Canada was first a french colony. Jacques Cartier claimed it for France in 1534, and permanent French settlement began in 1608. It was part of New France, which constituted all French colonies in North America...
leader Henri Bourassa
Henri Bourassa
Joseph-Napoléon-Henri Bourassa was a French Canadian political leader and publisher. He is seen by many as an ideological father of Canadian nationalism....
, over support for the war and the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. Papineau's letter to Bourassa would eventually be published in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
of London. He was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for his actions in Belgium and he eventually rose to the rank of major. He was hit by a shell
Shell (projectile)
A shell is a payload-carrying projectile, which, as opposed to shot, contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage sometimes includes large solid projectiles properly termed shot . Solid shot may contain a pyrotechnic compound if a tracer or spotting charge is used...
and killed during the Battle of Passchendaele near Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
on October 30, 1917.
In 1937 his mother presented an award in his honour to be presented annually by the Debating Union of his alma mater, McGill University.
He was one of the four Canadians featured in the book Tapestry of War: A Private View of Canadians in the Great War by Sandra Gwyn.
Papineau was portrayed by Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau
Justin Pierre James Trudeau, MP is a Canadian politician. He has represented the Montreal electoral division of Papineau in the Canadian House of Commons since 2008 as a member of the Liberal Party and currently serves as the party's critic for youth, post-secondary education, and amateur...
in the CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
movie The Great War
The Great War (2007 film)
The Great War is a CBC television film documenting Canadian participation in the First World War. The film stars Justin Trudeau and was shown on Canadian television during the 90th Anniversary of the Vimy Ridge battle, airing in two parts on April 8 and April 9, 2007.The Fox website included the...
.