Thomas-Jean-Jacques Loranger
Encyclopedia
Thomas-Jean-Jacques Loranger (February 2, 1823 – August 18, 1885) was a Quebec
judge and political figure.
He was born in Yamachiche
in Lower Canada
in 1823. He studied at the Séminaire de Nicolet, then articled in law with Antoine Polette
and was called to the bar in 1844. Loranger first practiced at Trois-Rivières
, later joined the office of Lewis Thomas Drummond
in Montreal
and, in 1858, opened an office with his brothers Louis-Onésime
and Jean-Marie. He was named Queen's Counsel
in 1854. Loranger was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
for Laprairie
in 1854; he was reelected in 1857. He served on the Executive Council
as secretary for Canada East
. He opposed the idea of a double majority, where legislation must be approved by a majority of the representatives from both provinces, but believed that legislation affecting one province should be approved by a majority in that province. He supported Montreal as a capital and opposed the choice of Ottawa
; this led to the resignation of the government of John A. Macdonald
and George-Étienne Cartier
in 1858. Loranger continued as a member in the legislature until he was named judge in the Quebec Superior Court
in 1863. In 1873, he published the first volume of Commentaire sur le Code civil du Bas-Canada, a discussion of the civil code of Quebec; a second volume was published in 1879 but the work was never completed. He also contributed articles to legal journals of the time. In 1877, he was named to head a commission to codify the general statutes of Quebec. Loranger retired in 1879 and became professor at the Université Laval
. In 1883 and 1884, he published a two volume work on the federal constitution.
He died in Sainte-Pétronille in 1885 and was buried in the Côte-des-Neiges cemetery in Montreal.
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....
judge and political figure.
He was born in Yamachiche
Yamachiche, Quebec
Yamachiche is a municipality in the Mauricie region of the province of Quebec in Canada.-Etymology:The name Yamachiche was first used to identify the Little Yamachiche River which runs through the town. It came from the Native American words iyamitaw and achichki...
in 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...
in 1823. He studied at the Séminaire de Nicolet, then articled in law with Antoine Polette
Antoine Polette
Antoine Polette was a Quebec lawyer, judge and political figure.He was born Antoine Paulet in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Lower Canada in 1807 and studied at the Petit Séminaire de Québec. He articled in law at Quebec City, was admitted to the bar in 1828 and set up practice in Trois-Rivières...
and was called to the bar in 1844. Loranger first practiced at Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières, Quebec
Trois-Rivières is a city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada, located at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice and Saint Lawrence Rivers. It is situated in the Mauricie administrative region, on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River across from the city of Bécancour...
, later joined the office of Lewis Thomas Drummond
Lewis Thomas Drummond
Lewis Thomas Drummond was a Quebec lawyer, judge and political figure.He was born in Coleraine, County Londonderry in Ireland in 1813. His father, an attorney, died while he was young and he came to Lower Canada with his mother in 1825...
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, in 1858, opened an office with his brothers Louis-Onésime
Louis-Onésime Loranger
Louis-Onésime Loranger was a Canadian lawyer, politician, and judge.Born in Yamachiche, Lower Canada, the son of Joseph Loranger and Marie-Louise Dugal, Loranger was educated in Montreal at the Petit Séminaire de Montréal and studied law at the Collège Sainte-Marie...
and Jean-Marie. He was named Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1854. Loranger was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
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 Laprairie
La Prairie (electoral district)
La Prairie was a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1896 and from 1968 to 1997....
in 1854; he was reelected in 1857. He served on the Executive Council
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
as secretary for Canada East
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 opposed the idea of a double majority, where legislation must be approved by a majority of the representatives from both provinces, but believed that legislation affecting one province should be approved by a majority in that province. He supported Montreal as a capital and opposed the choice of Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
; this led to the resignation of the government of John A. Macdonald
John A. Macdonald
Sir John Alexander Macdonald, GCB, KCMG, PC, PC , QC was the first Prime Minister of Canada. The dominant figure of Canadian Confederation, his political career spanned almost half a century...
and 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 1858. Loranger continued as a member in the legislature until he was named judge in the Quebec Superior Court
Quebec Superior Court
Quebec Superior Court is the highest trial Court in the Province of Quebec, Canada. It consists of 144 judges who are appointed by the federal government.Chief Justices : [partial listing]* Edward Bowen...
in 1863. In 1873, he published the first volume of Commentaire sur le Code civil du Bas-Canada, a discussion of the civil code of Quebec; a second volume was published in 1879 but the work was never completed. He also contributed articles to legal journals of the time. In 1877, he was named to head a commission to codify the general statutes of Quebec. Loranger retired in 1879 and became professor at the Université Laval
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
. In 1883 and 1884, he published a two volume work on the federal constitution.
He died in Sainte-Pétronille in 1885 and was buried in the Côte-des-Neiges cemetery in Montreal.