Thomas Chase-Casgrain
Encyclopedia
Thomas Chase-Casgrain, PC
(28 July 1852 – 29 December 1916), also known as Thomas Casgrain, was a French Canadian
lawyer
and politician
. As a young attorney he became famous for his participation in the prosecution of Louis Riel
.
He was born at Detroit in 1852, the son of Charles Eusèbe Casgrain
, and studied at the Petit Séminaire de Québec
and the Université Laval
. He was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1877 and received the governor general's
medal in the same year. He was named professor of law at Université Laval two years later.
In 1885, he was named to the legal team representing the Crown in the trial of Louis Riel. Although the crown was represented by a large team including George Burbidge
, Christopher Robinson, Britton Bath Osler
and others, Casgrain was the only French-Canadian in the group. Pro-Riel sentiment in the province
of Quebec
was so strong that he was burned in effigy during at least one demonstration.
However, this did not prevent him from being elected in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec
. He was elected for Quebec County in 1886 and for Montmorency
in 1892. He was attorney general in the provincial cabinet from December 1891 to November 1892 and again from December 1892 to May 1896. He represented Montmorency
as a Conservative
Member of Parliament
in the Canadian House of Commons
from 1896 to 1904 and Quebec County from 1914 until his death from pneumonia
at Ottawa
in 1916. He served as Postmaster General
from October 1914 until his death.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
(28 July 1852 – 29 December 1916), also known as Thomas Casgrain, was a French Canadian
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. As a young attorney he became famous for his participation in the prosecution of Louis Riel
Louis Riel
Louis David Riel was a Canadian politician, a founder of the province of Manitoba, and a political and spiritual leader of the Métis people of the Canadian prairies. He led two resistance movements against the Canadian government and its first post-Confederation Prime Minister, Sir John A....
.
He was born at Detroit in 1852, the son of Charles Eusèbe Casgrain
Charles Eusèbe Casgrain
Charles Eusèbe Casgrain was an Ontario physician and political figure. He was a Conservative member of the Senate of Canada for Windsor division from 1887 to 1907....
, and studied at the Petit Séminaire de Québec
Petit Séminaire de Québec
Le Petit Séminaire de Québec is a private French-language Roman Catholic secondary school in the Vieux-Québec area of Quebec City which was originally part of the Séminaire de Québec...
and 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...
. He was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1877 and received the governor general's
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
medal in the same year. He was named professor of law at Université Laval two years later.
In 1885, he was named to the legal team representing the Crown in the trial of Louis Riel. Although the crown was represented by a large team including George Burbidge
George Burbidge
George Wheelock Burbidge was a Canadian lawyer, judge and author. After being admitted to the New Brunswick Bar in 1872, he became a partner in a Saint John, New Brunswick law firm. He is noted for having conducted the prosecution of Louis Riel during his trial for treason following the North-West...
, Christopher Robinson, Britton Bath Osler
Britton Bath Osler
Britton Bath Osler was a Canadian lawyer and prosecutor.The older of three famous brothers , he was born in Bond Head, Canada West. His father, Featherstone Lake Osler , the son of a shipowner at Falmouth, Cornwall, was a former Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and served on H.M.S...
and others, Casgrain was the only French-Canadian in the group. Pro-Riel sentiment in the province
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
of 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....
was so strong that he was burned in effigy during at least one demonstration.
However, this did not prevent him from being elected in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec
Legislative Assembly of Quebec
The Legislative Assembly of Quebec was the name of the lower house of Quebec's legislature until 1968, when it was renamed the National Assembly of Quebec. At the same time, the upper house of the legislature, the Legislative Council, was abolished...
. He was elected for Quebec County in 1886 and for Montmorency
Montmorency (provincial electoral district)
Montmorency is a provincial electoral district in the province of Quebec, Canada. Located in the Capitale-Nationale region, the riding was created in 1829...
in 1892. He was attorney general in the provincial cabinet from December 1891 to November 1892 and again from December 1892 to May 1896. He represented Montmorency
Montmorency (electoral district)
Montmorency was a federal electoral district in the province of Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1917, and from 1968 to 2004.-History:"Montmorency" riding was created by the British North America Act...
as a Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada (historical)
The Conservative Party of Canada has gone by a variety of names over the years since Canadian Confederation. Initially known as the "Liberal-Conservative Party", it dropped "Liberal" from its name in 1873, although many of its candidates continued to use this name.As a result of World War I and the...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
from 1896 to 1904 and Quebec County from 1914 until his death from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
at 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...
in 1916. He served as Postmaster General
Postmaster General of Canada
The Postmaster General of Canada was the Canadian cabinet minister responsible for the Post Office Department . In 1851, management of the post office was transferred from Britain to the provincial governments of the Province of Canada, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward...
from October 1914 until his death.