Thomas-Étienne Hamel
Encyclopedia
Thomas-Étienne Hamel was a French-Canadian priest and academic. He was the son of Victor Hamel, a merchant and Therèse DeFoy.
In 1852, as a student of the Séminaire de Québec, he traveled with Louis-Jacques Casault
to London
where they arranged for the royal charter of what would become Laval University. After his ordination in 1854, he was sent to Paris' École des Carmes and eventually graduated from the Sorbonne
with a license in science, before returning to Quebec to teach at the Séminaire, also acquiring the office of general secretary of the new university. He became rector of the Séminaire de Québec and Laval University (1871–1880, 1883–1886, librarian from 1888) and a founder as well as a president (1886–1887) of the Royal Society of Canada
. He was Vicar general
of the Archdiocese of Quebec from 1871 and appointed an apostolic prothonotary in 1886. In 1881, he led a delegation to Rome to argue against the independence of the Montreal branch (which would ultimately become the Université de Montréal
).
Hamel wrote a biography of Elzéar-Alexandre Taschereau
(Le Premier Cardinal Canadien, 1888) and a manual of rhetoric
(Un Cours d'éloquence parlée d'après Descartes, 1906). His contributions to the study of the Music of Quebec
, notably his Annales musicales du Petit-Cap (an unpublished compilation of folk songs preserved at the Séminaire), have been little studied. Although a biography of him was intended for inclusion in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography
, it was never included for unknown reasons, and no definitive biography of him exists.
In 1852, as a student of the Séminaire de Québec, he traveled with Louis-Jacques Casault
Louis-Jacques Casault
Louis-Jacques Casault was a Canadian priest, academic, superior of the Séminaire de Québec, and rector of Université Laval....
to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where they arranged for the royal charter of what would become Laval University. After his ordination in 1854, he was sent to Paris' École des Carmes and eventually graduated from the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
with a license in science, before returning to Quebec to teach at the Séminaire, also acquiring the office of general secretary of the new university. He became rector of the Séminaire de Québec and Laval University (1871–1880, 1883–1886, librarian from 1888) and a founder as well as a president (1886–1887) of the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
. He was Vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of the Archdiocese of Quebec from 1871 and appointed an apostolic prothonotary in 1886. In 1881, he led a delegation to Rome to argue against the independence of the Montreal branch (which would ultimately become the Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
).
Hamel wrote a biography of Elzéar-Alexandre Taschereau
Elzéar-Alexandre Taschereau
Elzéar-Alexandre Taschereau was a Canadian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Quebec from 1871 until his death in 1898...
(Le Premier Cardinal Canadien, 1888) and a manual of rhetoric
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
(Un Cours d'éloquence parlée d'après Descartes, 1906). His contributions to the study of the Music of Quebec
Music of Quebec
Being a modern cosmopolitan society, today, all types of music can be found in the Canadian province of Quebec. What is specific to Quebec though are traditional songs, a unique variety of Celtic music, legions of excellent jazz musicians, a culture of classical music, and a love of foreign rhythms...
, notably his Annales musicales du Petit-Cap (an unpublished compilation of folk songs preserved at the Séminaire), have been little studied. Although a biography of him was intended for inclusion in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography
Dictionary of Canadian Biography
The Dictionary of Canadian Biography is a dictionary of biographical entries for individuals who have contributed to the history of Canada. The DCB, which was initiated in 1959, is a collaboration between the University of Toronto and Université Laval...
, it was never included for unknown reasons, and no definitive biography of him exists.