Henri Elzéar Taschereau

Sir Henri- Elzéar Taschereau, PC ( born October 7, 1836 in Sainte -Marie -de- la -Beauce, Quebec, † April 14, 1911 in Ottawa ) was a Canadian politician and judge. He was a member from 1878 to 1906 the Supreme Court of Canada, and was its chairman from 1902 ( Chief Justice ).

Biography

Taschereau was born into one of the most influential families in the province of Quebec. His father Pierre- Elzéar a member of the provincial parliament, his cousin Elzéar -Alexandre was Archbishop of Quebec, his cousin Jean- Thomas was Chief Justice. His grandson Robert was also later Chairman of the Supreme Court, Jean -Thomas ' son, Louis -Alexandre Premier of Québec.

Taschereau received his education at the Petit Séminaire in Quebec City and then studied law at the Université de Laval. In 1857 he was admitted as a lawyer. He was according to family tradition politically active and was elected to Parliament in the then province of Canada as a representative of the Conservatives in 1861. He initially supported the proposed by Sir John A. Macdonald and George-Étienne Cartier Canadian confederation, but then changed his mind before the crucial vote, and he was defeated in his constituency in 1867.

1871 Taschereau was appointed to the Court of Quebec, 1873, he published an executive summary of the Canadian criminal law. On October 7, 1878, the appointment was followed by a judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, where he replaced his cousin Jean -Thomas. In addition, he taught in session free periods at the University of Ottawa. Following the appointment by Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier Taschereau took over on 21 November 1902 as the first French-Canadian at all the office of Chief Justice. This he held until May 2, 1906.