Austin Cuvillier (August 20, 1779 – July 11, 1849) was a businessman and political figure in
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada (french: province du Bas-Canada) was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence (1791–1841). It covered the southern portion of the current Province of Quebec an ...
and
Canada East
Canada East (french: links=no, Canada-Est) was the northeastern portion of the United Province of Canada. Lord Durham's Report investigating the causes of the Upper and Lower Canada Rebellions recommended merging those two colonies. The new ...
. He was a successful ''Canadien'' businessmen, unusual when most businessmen in Lower Canada were British. He also was a member of the
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. The lower house consisted of ele ...
for twenty years, as a member for the ''
Parti canadien
The Parti canadien () or Parti patriote () was a primarily francophone political party in what is now Quebec founded by members of the liberal elite of Lower Canada at the beginning of the 19th century. Its members were made up of liberal pro ...
'', which tended to oppose the policies of the British-appointed governors. As a result, he served as a bridge between the conservative business community, and the more radical ''Parti canadien'', although he finally broke with the ''Parti canadien'' (by then called the ''Parti patriote'') prior to the
Lower Canada Rebellion
The Lower Canada Rebellion (french: rébellion du Bas-Canada), commonly referred to as the Patriots' War () in French, is the name given to the armed conflict in 1837–38 between rebels and the colonial government of Lower Canada (now southe ...
of 1837–1838.
After the Rebellion, when the British government united Lower Canada with
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada (french: link=no, province du Haut-Canada) was a part of British Canada established in 1791 by the Kingdom of Great Britain, to govern the central third of the lands in British North America, formerly part of the ...
as the
province of Canada
The Province of Canada (or the United Province of Canada or the United Canadas) was a British North America, British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham ...
, he again played a bridging role as the first Speaker of the
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 C ...
, His fluent bilingualism enabled him to deal with both the English and the French speaking members of the Assembly in their own language, a tradition which carries on with the Speakers of the
federal House of Commons. His
portrait
A portrait is a portrait painting, painting, portrait photography, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expressions are predominant. The intent is to display the likeness, Personality type ...
hangs in the Centre Block of the federal Parliament buildings, along with other former speakers.
Early life and family
![Premiere eglise Ville-Marie](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Premiere_eglise_Ville-Marie.jpg)
Cuvillier was born Augustin Cuvillier in 1779, in
Quebec City
Quebec City ( or ; french: Ville de Québec), officially Québec (), is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the Communauté métrop ...
,
Province of Quebec
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirteen p ...
, son of Augustin Cuvillier and Angélique Miot, ''dit'' Girard, the eldest of their seven children. His father was a shop-owner on Rue Sous-le-Fort, beneath
Cap Diamant Cap Diamant (English: Cape Diamond) is a cape on an edge of the Promontory of Quebec and on which Quebec City is located, formed by the confluence of a bend in the St. Lawrence River to the south and east, and the much smaller Saint-Charles River t ...
, a street with other small shopkeepers and navigators. Cuvillier's father died in 1789, when Cuvillier was around ten years old, casting responsibility on him at a young age. Prior to his death, his father had arranged for Cuvillier to attend
Collège Saint-Raphaël in Montreal. Cuvillier enrolled there in 1794, but does not appear to have completed his studies.
[Jacques Monet and Gerald J. J. Tulchinsky, "Cuvillier, Austin", ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography'', Volume VII (1836-1850), University of Toronto and Université Laval.]
/ref>["Austin Cuvillier", ]
In 1802, he married Marie-Claire Perrault at Notre-Dame cathedral
Notre-Dame de Paris (; meaning "Our Lady of Paris"), referred to simply as Notre-Dame, is a medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité (an island in the Seine River), in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. The cathedral, dedicated to the ...
in Montreal.[ The couple had seven children.][ One of his daughters, Angélique, married ]Alexandre-Maurice Delisle
Alexandre-Maurice Delisle (April 20, 1810 – February 13, 1880) was a Montreal businessman and political figure. Trained as a lawyer, he held several public service positions in the governments of Lower Canada and the Province of Canada ...
, a businessman who subsequently was a member of the 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 C ...
.[ Another daughter, Luce, had a long-standing extra-marital relationship with ]George-Étienne Cartier
Sir George-Étienne Cartier, 1st Baronet, (pronounced ; September 6, 1814May 20, 1873) was a Canadian statesman and Father of Confederation.
The English spelling of the name—George, instead of Georges, the usual French spelling—is explained ...
, who became a co-premier of the Province of Canada and a Father of Confederation
The Fathers of Confederation are the 36 people who attended at least one of the Charlottetown Conference of 1864 (23 attendees), the Quebec Conference of 1864 (33 attendees), and the London Conference of 1866 (16 attendees), preceding Canadian ...
. Two of his sons, Maurice and Austin, had significant business interests in banking, transportation and real estate development, as well as trade with Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada (french: link=no, province du Haut-Canada) was a part of British Canada established in 1791 by the Kingdom of Great Britain, to govern the central third of the lands in British North America, formerly part of the ...
. Joseph Perrault, Marie-Claire’s brother and Cuvillier's brother-in-law, also went on to become a member of the Legislative Assembly, elected in 1820.[
]
Business career
Cuvillier was hired by Henry Richard Symes, a wealthy Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...
auctioneer, and eventually took over the business when Symes retired in 1802. He formed a partnership with two other men, Thomas Aylwin and John Harkness, doing business in both Montreal and Quebec City. However, the business was taken over by their creditors in 1806. In spite of the reverse, Cuvillier was acquiring a great deal of knowledge about local and foreign markets, as the auctioneering business involved importing large quantities of dry goods and then selling them in lots to local firms. He developed a network of contacts and an understanding of finance and banking, and also began to develop a reputation amongst colonial merchants. As a result of his involvement in the British-dominated business world, Cuvillier gradually adopted the anglicized
Anglicisation is the process by which a place or person becomes influenced by English culture or British culture, or a process of cultural and/or linguistic change in which something non-English becomes English. It can also refer to the influen ...
first name Austin, first in English, and then in French as well. By 1807, he was back in the auction business, although he continued to have financial difficulties from time to time. At one point, his wife opened a business in her own name, which may have been a front for Cuvillier's business, avoiding his creditors.[
He played an important role in the founding of the ]Bank of Montreal
The Bank of Montreal (BMO; french: Banque de Montréal, link=no) is a Canadian multinational investment bank and financial services company.
The bank was founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1817 as Montreal Bank; while its head office remains in ...
and was one of its first directors.[ He also helped found the Montreal Fire Insurance Company and became president in 1820, although the firm agreed to a costly takeover by the Quebec Fire Insurance Company in late 1820, after Cuillivier had resigned as president and director.][ Even though heavily involved in the affairs of the Legislative Assembly, he continued to develop his businesses until by the 1830s he was Montreal's leading auctioneer, including imported manufactured goods, fish, salt, and liquors, as well as selling the inventories of insolvent businesses. He acted as a financial agent and stockbroker, selling shares of Canadian banks. In 1836, he was named as a Montreal representative on the board of the ]Bank of British North America
The Bank of British North America was founded by Royal Charter issued in 1836 in London, England with offices in Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Saint John, New Brunswick, Halifax and St. John's, Newfoundland. It was the first bank operating in B ...
, founded in Britain to act as a colonial bank. By 1836, he was president of the city's Committee of Trade, leading the group which secured its incorporation as the Montreal Board of Trade
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple-pe ...
. He was also involved in real estate transactions.[
]
Militia service: War of 1812
During the War of 1812
The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...
, Cuvillier served with the militia. He initially was a lieutenant with the 5th Select Embodied Militia Battalion of Lower Canada (nicknamed "The Devil's Own"). In 1813, he gathered valuable undercover intelligence about American troops in the Salmon River area of New York, where he was known as a merchant. By 1814, he was a captain with the unit, renamed the Chasseurs Canadiens, but resigned when an officer from a British line regiment was given command rather than an officer of the Chasseurs. As a sideline, he had several commissary contracts. After the war, he was recognised with a medal with a Châteauguay clasp, and a grant of 800 acres of land in Litchfield township. By 1820, he was a supernumerary captain, with command of a company.[
]
Political career
Lower Canada
Member of the Legislative Assembly
Cuvillier was one of the few ''Canadien'' businessmen who was interested in politics. Most of the ''Canadien'' members of the Legislative Assembly were drawn from the professional classes. In 1809, Cuvillier stood for election for Huntingdon county
Huntingdon is a market town in the Huntingdonshire district in Cambridgeshire, England. The town was given its town charter by John, King of England, King John in 1205. It was the county town of the historic county of Huntingdonshire. Oliver Cr ...
, south of Montreal, but was defeated. In 1814, he tried again, and this time was successful, being elected to the 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. The lower house consisted of ele ...
representing Huntingdon, as a member of the ''Parti canadien
The Parti canadien () or Parti patriote () was a primarily francophone political party in what is now Quebec founded by members of the liberal elite of Lower Canada at the beginning of the 19th century. Its members were made up of liberal pro ...
''. He was re-elected in the general elections of 1816, 1820 (two elections), 1824, and 1827.[
]
His knowledge of business and finance was very valuable to the ''Canadiens'', who were challenging the Governors over provincial finances, using well-established British principles that the elected branch of government should control government finances. They were rebuffed by the governors, who took the view that those principles did not apply in colonial government, and who could count on the support of the appointed Legislative Council to defeat measures proposed by the Assembly. Cuvillier provided the detailed financial critiques; the leaders of the party, Louis-Joseph Papineau
Louis-Joseph Papineau (October 7, 1786 – September 23, 1871), 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 ...
and John Neilson, made the arguments based on British political principles. Cuvillier and Neilson were also strong critics of government spending that did not relate strictly to the administration of government, opposing subsidies for public works.[
Cuvillier's political activities were also helpful for the business community of Lower Canada, as he served as a bridge to the members of the ''Parti canadien'' who were not necessarily sympathetic to business. Cuvillier worked in the Assembly for many years to get a legislative charter passed for the Bank of Montreal, to replace the private contract which its shareholders operated under. The statutory charter was eventually passed in 1822. Cuvillier was also one of four commissioners appointed by the Assembly to carry out difficult negotiations with representatives from Upper Canada on how to share the customs revenues between the two provinces.][
In the 1820s, the British government began to entertain proposals to reunite the two Canadas. Like most of the ''Parti canadien'' representatives, Cuvillier opposed the proposal, instead emphasising the spirit of the "Constitution of 1791", the statute which had created Lower Canada and Upper Canada and created separate parliaments for each province. The ''Parti canadien'' named him as one of their delegates to Britain in 1828, armed with massive petitions and detailed objections against Governor Dalhousie's policies. After making their submissions to a committee of the British House of Commons, the ''Canadiens'' received a favourable response from the British government on the financial issues. Cuvillier reported back that there was general sympathy for the principles of self-government which they had advanced in the British Parliament.][
Even though they had been successful on financial issues, Papineau and his supporters were increasingly expressing more radical views, and beginning to call themselves the ''Parti patriote''. They called for major constitutional reforms, such as making the Legislative Council an elected body, rather than appointed by the Governor. Cuvillier and other more moderate members began to distance themselves from the ''Parti patriote'', while Papineau began to see him as a potential political rival. On one issue, however, Cuvillier was the more radical, calling for indemnities to be paid to elected members of the Legislative Assembly, which would open it up beyond the wealthy landholders, professionals and businessmen. Papineau opposed the proposal as too democratic. In the general election of 1830, Cuvillier stood for election in the constituency of Laprairie, which had been split off from Huntingdon in a re-distribution. He was re-elected.][
The conflict between Papineau and Cuvillier came to a head over the ]Ninety-Two Resolutions The Ninety-Two Resolutions were drafted by Louis-Joseph Papineau and other members of the ''Parti patriote'' of Lower Canada in 1834. The resolutions were a long series of demands for political reforms in the British-governed colony.
Papineau had b ...
. The Resolutions were a detailed critique of the existing constitutional structure of Lower Canada, and a direct challenge to the British government. Papineau was largely responsible for their drafting. They were then adopted by a large majority in the Assembly. Cuvillier was one of only six French-speaking members who opposed the Resolutions and argued in favour of the existing constitutional system. From that point on, he was considered a ''vendu'' ("sell-out") by many in the ''Parti patriote''. In the general election of 1834, Cuvillier was defeated in his own riding. Somewhat disillusioned, he returned to his commercial activities, as well as Montreal municipal affairs, while the members of the ''Parti patriote'' moved steadily towards taking up arms against the government.[
]
Rebellion in Lower Canada
In 1837, the Lower Canada Rebellion
The Lower Canada Rebellion (french: rébellion du Bas-Canada), commonly referred to as the Patriots' War () in French, is the name given to the armed conflict in 1837–38 between rebels and the colonial government of Lower Canada (now southe ...
broke out. The Patriotes, led by Louis-Joseph Papineau
Louis-Joseph Papineau (October 7, 1786 – September 23, 1871), 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 ...
, began an armed resistance to the British and provincial forces.
Cuvillier rejected the call to arms, and was firmly on the side of the government. He returned to his militia duties. Promoted to the rank of major, Cuvillier was the commander of Montreal’s 5th Militia Battalion. In 1838, he was one of the founders of the Association Loyale Canadienne du District de Montréal, which denounced the rebellion as well as proposals for union of the Canadas, and called for political reform under the 1791 Constitution.[
In addition to his military position, Cuvillier was also a Justice of the Peace, a lay judicial officer. In that capacity, he was one of the two Justices of the Peace who signed the requisition authorising the British military to march on St Denis, the rebel stronghold, which resulted in the Battle of Saint-Denis, a defeat for the government forces.][ He also was one of two justices who issued a warrant to arrest ]Wolfred Nelson
Wolfred Nelson (10 July 1791 – 17 June 1863) was the mayor of Montreal, Quebec, from 1854 to 1856.
Biography
Nelson was born in Montreal. His father, William Nelson, was an immigrant to Colonial America from Newsham, North Yorkshire, En ...
, one of the leaders of the Rebellion and a former colleague in the Legislative Assembly, on a charge of high treason.
The British and provincial governments were successful in suppressing the Rebellion in Lower Canada, as well as a similar Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising, or insurrection is a refusal of obedience or order. It refers to the open resistance against the orders of an established authority.
A rebellion originates from a sentiment of indignation and disapproval of a situation and ...
the same year in Upper Canada. In the aftermath, the British government sent Lord Durham
Earl of Durham is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1833 for the Whig politician and colonial official John Lambton, 1st Baron Durham. Known as "Radical Jack", he played a leading role in the passing of the Gre ...
to the Canadas, as Governor General, and with instructions to report back on the causes of the Rebellions and possible responses.
Lord Durham issued his Report of the Affairs of British North AMerica in 1838. He called for the reunion of the two Canadas into a single province, with the expressed hope that the British populations in Upper Canada and Lower Canada would gradually assimilate the French population in Lower Canada. He also recommended that the British government accept that the principle of responsible government
Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability, the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy. Governments (the equivalent of the executive bran ...
should be applied in the new Province, namely that the Governor should call on the group which had a majority in Parliament to form the executive Cabinet, just as in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
itself.
Province of Canada
Following the rebellion in Lower Canada, and the similar rebellion in 1837 in Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada (french: link=no, province du Haut-Canada) was a part of British Canada established in 1791 by the Kingdom of Great Britain, to govern the central third of the lands in British North America, formerly part of the ...
(now Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
), the British government decided to merge the two provinces into a single province, as recommended by Lord Durham
Earl of Durham is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1833 for the Whig politician and colonial official John Lambton, 1st Baron Durham. Known as "Radical Jack", he played a leading role in the passing of the Gre ...
in the Durham Report
The ''Report on the Affairs of British North America'', (1839) commonly known as the ''Durham Report'' or ''Lord Durham's Report'', is an important document in the history of Quebec, Ontario, Canada and the British Empire.
The notable British ...
. The ''Union Act, 1840'', passed by the British Parliament
The Parliament of the United Kingdom is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. It meets at the Palace of Westminster, London. It alone possesses legislative supremacy ...
, abolished the two provinces and their separate parliaments, and created the Province of Canada
The Province of Canada (or the United Province of Canada or the United Canadas) was a British North America, British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham ...
, with a single parliament for the entire province, composed of an elected Legislative Assembly and an appointed Legislative Council.
General elections for the 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 C ...
were held in the spring of the year. Cuvillier returned to the political stage. He continued to oppose the union of the two Canadas and stood for election on general opposition to the anticipated policies of Governor-General Lord Sydenham. He was elected to the 1st Parliament of the Province of Canada
The First Parliament of the Province of Canada was summoned in 1841, following the union of Upper Canada and Lower Canada as the Province of Canada on February 10, 1841. The Parliament continued until dissolution in late 1844.
The Parliament ...
representing newly constituted district of Huntingdon
Huntingdon is a market town in the Huntingdonshire district in Cambridgeshire, England. The town was given its town charter by King John in 1205. It was the county town of the historic county of Huntingdonshire. Oliver Cromwell was born there ...
.[
]
One of the first issues facing the new Assembly was the choice of the Speaker
Speaker may refer to:
Society and politics
* Speaker (politics), the presiding officer in a legislative assembly
* Public speaker, one who gives a speech or lecture
* A person producing speech: the producer of a given utterance, especially:
** In ...
. Cuvillier and Neilson now found themselves amongst the moderates. Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine
Sir Louis-Hippolyte Ménard '' dit'' La Fontaine, 1st Baronet, KCMG (October 4, 1807 – February 26, 1864) was a Canadian politician who served as the first Premier of the United Province of Canada and the first head of a responsible governmen ...
had inherited the more radical group, formerly led by Papineau, who now was in exile. Although LaFontaine bore a grudge against Cuvillier for having opposed the Ninety-Two Resolutions, he was also trying to unite the French-speaking members to obtain power in the new government for Lower Canada. Francis Hincks
Sir Francis Hincks, (December 14, 1807 – August 18, 1885) was a Canadian businessman, politician, and British colonial administrator. An immigrant from Ireland, he was the Co-Premier of the Province of Canada (1851–1854), Governor of Barb ...
, a Reform member from Upper Canada and one of Papineau's allies, was able to persuade Papineau that Cuvillier was a good choice for Speaker. As a businessman, fluent in English, Cuvillier could appeal to the Tory members in the Assembly. Cuvillier could also appeal to the ''Canadien'' members in the Assembly as a francophone himself, opposed to the union and to the bar on using French in the Assembly. Governor General Lord Sydenham, who was initially determined to bring a conciliatory approach to the government, tacitly supported Cuvillier as well. Cuvillier was elected.[
During the four years of the first Parliament, Cuvillier developed very coridal relations with the succession of governors, who were engaged with the Assembly over the issue of responsible government. Matters came to a head during the governorship of ]Charles Theophilus Metcalfe
Charles Theophilus Metcalfe, 1st Baron Metcalfe, (30 January 1785 – 5 September 1846), known as Sir Charles Metcalfe, Bt between 1822 and 1845, was a British colonial administrator. He held appointments including acting Governor-General o ...
, who prorogued
A legislative session is the period of time in which a legislature, in both parliamentary and presidential systems, is convened for purpose of lawmaking, usually being one of two or more smaller divisions of the entire time between two elections ...
the Parliament for over a year rather than accept the demand of LaFontaine and Robert Baldwin
Robert Baldwin (May 12, 1804 – December 9, 1858) was an Upper Canada, Upper Canadian lawyer and politician who with his political partner Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine of Lower Canada, led the first responsible government ministry in the Province ...
that the governor should call on the majority party in the Assembly to form the government. Cuvillier supported Metcalfe in the dispute. When the general election was called in 1844, Cuvillier was defeated in Huntingdon by the Reform candidate. At the age of 61, Cuvillier accepted that his political career was over.[
]
Later life and death
Following his political career, Cuvillier returned in full force to his business interests, now operating as Cuvillier & Sons, until his death from typhus
Typhus, also known as typhus fever, is a group of infectious diseases that include epidemic typhus, scrub typhus, and murine typhus. Common symptoms include fever, headache, and a rash. Typically these begin one to two weeks after exposure.
...
in 1849. He was buried at Notre-Dame the day after his death.[
In 1969, Cuvillier was designated as a National Historic Person by the federal government, recognising his forty years of public service and his substantial contributions to the business community of Montreal.Government of Canada —Designations of National Historic Significance: "Cuvillier, Augustin –National Historic Person".]
/ref>
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cuvillier, Austin
1779 births
1849 deaths
Members of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada from Canada East
Politicians from Quebec City
French Quebecers
Canadian auctioneers
Canadian Militia officers
Battle of the Châteaugay veterans
Persons of National Historic Significance (Canada)
Pre-Confederation Canadian businesspeople
Businesspeople from Montreal
Directors of Bank of Montreal
Collège Saint-Raphaël alumni