Honoré Mercier (October 15, 1840 – October 30, 1894) was a Canadian lawyer, journalist and politician in
Quebec
Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...
. He was the ninth
premier of Quebec
The premier of Quebec ( (masculine) or eminine is the head of government of the Canadian province of Quebec. The current premier of Quebec is François Legault of the Coalition Avenir Québec, sworn in on October 18, 2018, following tha ...
from January 27, 1887, to December 21, 1891, as leader of the
Parti National
The Parti National () was the name taken by the Liberal Party of Quebec, Canada, under the premiership of Honoré Mercier.
Origin and beliefs
It was founded on November 17, 1885, the day following the execution of Métis Leader Louis Riel. ...
or
Quebec Liberal Party
The Quebec Liberal Party (QLP; , PLQ) is a provincial political party in Quebec. It has been independent of the federal Liberal Party of Canada since 1955.
The QLP has traditionally supported a form of Quebec federalist ideology with nuance ...
(PLQ). He rose to power by mobilizing the Francophone opposition to the execution of
Louis Riel
Louis Riel (; ; 22 October 1844 – 16 November 1885) was a Canadian politician, a founder of the province of Manitoba, and a political leader of the Métis in Canada, Métis people. He led two resistance movements against the Government of ...
, denouncing it as a betrayal by
John A. Macdonald's Conservative government.
Early background
Mercier was born in
Saint-Athanase,
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada () was a British colonization of the Americas, British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence established in 1791 and abolished in 1841. It covered the southern portion o ...
to farmer Jean-Baptiste Mercier and Marie Kimener. Mercier is descended from Julien Mercier (1621-1676) who arrived from
Tourouvre, France in 1647. Mercier studied at the Jesuit College Sainte-Marie in
Montreal
Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...
, and was called to the
Bar of Quebec
The Bar of Quebec () is the regulatory body for the practice of advocates in the Canadian province of Quebec and one of two legal regulatory bodies in the province. It was founded on May 30, 1849, as the Bar of Lower Canada ().
History
The begi ...
in April 1865. As the age of 22, Mercier became the editor of ''Le Courrier de St-Hyacinthe'' newspaper. He opposed the
Confederation
A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a political union of sovereign states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...
project as early as 1864, believing that it would be detrimental to
French Canadian
French Canadians, referred to as Canadiens mainly before the nineteenth century, are an ethnic group descended from French people, French colonists first arriving in Canada (New France), France's colony of Canada in 1608. The vast majority of ...
s.
Member of Parliament
In 1871, he was instrumental in creating the short-lived Parti National. Mercier successfully ran as a
Liberal candidate in the
1872 election. He became Member of the
House of Commons
The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...
for the district of
Rouville. He did not run for re-election in the
1874 election. In the
1878 election, Mercier was candidate in the district of
St. Hyacinthe. He was defeated by the
Louis Tellier, his
Conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...
opponent.
Provincial politics
In 1879, Mercier was appointed Solicitor General of Quebec in the
Cabinet of
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier.
A premier will normally be a head of govern ...
Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière and served in that position for less than a year. He won a
by-election
A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, or a bypoll in India, is an election used to fill an office that has become vacant between general elections.
A vacancy may arise as a result of an incumben ...
and became Member of the
Legislative Assembly for the district of
Saint-Hyacinthe
Saint-Hyacinthe ( , ) is a city in southwestern Quebec east of Montreal on the Yamaska River. The population as of the 2021 Canadian census was 57,239. The city is located in Les Maskoutains Regional County Municipality of the Montérégie regi ...
. He was re-elected in the
1881 and
1886
Events January
* January 1 – Upper Burma is formally annexed to British rule in Burma, British Burma, following its conquest in the Third Anglo-Burmese War of November 1885.
* January 5–January 9, 9 – Robert Louis Stevenson ...
elections and won another by-election in 1887.
He left an impact on a later leader,
Henri Bourassa
Joseph-Napoléon-Henri Bourassa (; September 1, 1868 – August 31, 1952) was a French Canadian political leader and publisher. In 1899, Bourassa was outspoken against the Government of the United Kingdom, British government's request for Cana ...
.
Party leader
He became the leader of the PLQ in 1883. A practising lawyer, from 1885 to 1887 he was President of the
Bar of Montreal. He strongly opposed the execution of
Louis Riel
Louis Riel (; ; 22 October 1844 – 16 November 1885) was a Canadian politician, a founder of the province of Manitoba, and a political leader of the Métis in Canada, Métis people. He led two resistance movements against the Government of ...
in 1885; this event helped him win popular support, and the
Quebec Conservative Party lost support because its federal counterparts had ordered Riel's execution.
Seizing the opportunity to build a coalition with dissident Conservatives, Mercier revived the "Parti National" name for the
1886 Quebec provincial election, and won a majority of seats. However, the coalition consisted of mostly Liberals and only a few Conservatives, so the "Liberal" name was soon reinstituted. The Conservatives, reduced to a minority in the
Legislative Assembly, clung to power for a few more months, but Mercier became Premier of Quebec in 1887.
Premier of Quebec

Seeing provincial autonomy as the political expression of Quebec nationalism, he collaborated with Ontario Premier
Oliver Mowat to roll back federal centralism. Mercier initiated the idea of interprovincial conferences in 1887. He was the first Quebec premier to defend the principle of provincial autonomy within the confederation, campaigning to abolish the federal government's claimed right to veto provincial legislation.
With his strong nationalist stance, Mercier was very much a precursor of later nationalist premiers in future decades who confronted the federal government and tried to win more power for Quebec. He promoted contacts with
Francophone
The Francophonie or Francophone world is the whole body of people and organisations around the world who use the French language regularly for private or public purposes. The term was coined by Onésime Reclus in 1880 and became important a ...
s in other parts of North America outside of Quebec including
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces, Canadian West, or Western provinces of Canada, and commonly known within Canada as the West, is a list of regions of Canada, Canadian region that includes the four western provinces and t ...
and
New England
New England is a region consisting of six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the ...
. Those francophones had not yet been assimilated into the English-Canadian or American culture to the extent they would be in the future. Mercier promoted reform, economic development, Catholicism, and the French language. He won popularity but also made enemies. He was returned to the legislature as the Member for the district of
Bonaventure
Bonaventure ( ; ; ; born Giovanni di Fidanza; 1221 – 15 July 1274) was an Italian Catholic Franciscan bishop, Cardinal (Catholic Church), cardinal, Scholasticism, scholastic theologian and philosopher.
The seventh Minister General ( ...
and his party won the
1890 election with an increased majority. In 1891, he was created a
count
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
by the Pope.
Political downfall
On December 16, 1891, he was dismissed by Lieutenant Governor
Auguste-Réal Angers after a report concluded that his government had diverted public funds. He lost the
1892 election, and gave up the party leadership to
Félix-Gabriel Marchand. He was brought to trial later that year and found not guilty when a second report concluded differently on the matter. However, his health had greatly deteriorated and his political career was over. He died in 1894 at the age of 54, and was interred in the
Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery
Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery (, ) is a rural cemetery located in the borough of Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, which was founded in 1854. The entrance and the grounds run along a part of Côte-des-Neiges Ro ...
in Montreal, Quebec.
Legacy
The following landmarks were named to honour Honoré Mercier:
*The
Mercier Bridge that links the western part of the
Island of Montreal
The Island of Montreal (, ) is an island in southwestern Quebec, Canada, which is the site of a number of municipalities, including most of the city of Montreal, and is the most populous island in Canada. It is the main island of the Hochelag ...
with the South Shore;
*The town of
Mercier, Quebec
Mercier () is a suburban town in southwestern Quebec, Canada, in the Roussillon Regional County Municipality. It is located on the Châteauguay River, southwest of Montreal. The population as of the Canada 2021 Census was 14,626.
History
Offi ...
;
*Avenue Mercier, located in downtown
Shawinigan
Shawinigan (; ) is a city located on the Saint-Maurice River in the Mauricie area in Quebec, Canada. It had a population of 49,620 as of the 2021 Canadian census.
Shawinigan is also a territory equivalent to a regional county municipality (TE) ...
,
Quebec
Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...
, Canada;
*The provincial electoral district of
Mercier;
*An elementary school named Honoré-Mercier in Montreal;
*A high school named Honoré-Mercier in Montreal;
*A hospital in
Saint-Hyacinthe
Saint-Hyacinthe ( , ) is a city in southwestern Quebec east of Montreal on the Yamaska River. The population as of the 2021 Canadian census was 57,239. The city is located in Les Maskoutains Regional County Municipality of the Montérégie regi ...
, Québec named
Hôpital Honoré-Mercier
The Honoré Mercier Hospital () is the major hospital in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada. It serves Saint-Hyacinthe its surrounding Les Maskoutains Regional County Municipality, as well as the neighbouring Acton Regional County Municipality and ...
;
*Avenue Honoré-Mercier, located in the
Quebec City
Quebec City 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 Census Metropolitan Area (including surrounding communities) had a populati ...
centre;
*The borough of
Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and its contained district of
Mercier in Montreal.
Family
His son
Honoré Mercier ''fils'' was a multi-term member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec and a Cabinet Minister; his grandson
Honoré Mercier III served one term in the Legislative Assembly.
Mercier was
Lomer Gouin
Sir Jean Lomer Gouin (March 19, 1861 – March 28, 1929) was a Canadian politician. He served as 13th premier of Quebec, as a Cabinet minister in the federal government of Canada, and as the 15th lieutenant governor of Quebec.
Biography
...
's father-in-law and is a great-great-grandfather of
NDP retired leader
Thomas Mulcair.
Electoral record
See also
*
Politics of Quebec
The politics of Quebec are centred on a provincial government resembling that of the other Canadian provinces, namely a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The capital of Quebec is Quebec City, where the Lieutenant Governor, Pr ...
*
History of Quebec
*
Quebec general elections
This article provides a summary of results for the general elections to the Canadian province of Quebec's unicameral legislative body, the National Assembly of Quebec (and its predecessor, the Legislative Assembly of Quebec). The number of ...
Archives
There is a Honoré Mercier
fonds
In archival science, a fonds (plural also ''fonds'') is a group of documents that share the same origin and have occurred naturally as an outgrowth of the daily workings of an agency, individual, or organization. An example of a fonds could be ...
at
Library and Archives Canada
Library and Archives Canada (LAC; ) is the federal institution tasked with acquiring, preserving, and providing accessibility to the documentary heritage of Canada. The national archive and library is the 16th largest library in the world. T ...
. There are also two fonds at
Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec
The (; ; abbr. BAnQ) is a Quebec government agency which manages the province's legal deposit system, national archives, and national library. Located at the Grande Bibliothèque in Montreal, the BAnQ was created by the merging of the Biblioth ...
.
[Fonds Famille Mercier (P74) and Fonds Famille Mercier-Gouin (P764), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ).]
References
Further reading
*
*
* Wade, Mason. ''The French Canadians 1760-1967'' (2 vol. 2nd ed. 1975), Vol. 2. pp 417–3
online
Primary sources
* Mercier, Honoré. "Answer of the Hon. Honoré Mercier to the Pamphlet of the Equal Rights Association Against the Majority of the Inhabitants of the Province of Quebec'' (1890
online
External links
*
*
*
*
Extensive dossier on Mercier at ''L'Encyclopédie de l'Agora''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mercier, Honore
1840 births
1894 deaths
Canadian Roman Catholics
Journalists from Quebec
Lawyers in Quebec
Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Quebec
Liberal Party of Canada MPs
Premiers of Quebec
Officers of the Legion of Honour
Quebec Liberal Party MNAs
Quebec political party leaders
Persons of National Historic Significance (Canada)
19th-century Canadian journalists
Canadian male journalists
19th-century Canadian male writers
Canadian nationalists
Burials at Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery
Papal counts
19th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada
19th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec