Joseph Bourret

Joseph Bourret ( born June 10, 1802 in Rivière -du -Loup, Lower Canada, † March 5, 1859 in Montreal) was a Canadian politician and lawyer. He was twice mayor of Montreal from 1842 to 1844, and from 1847 until 1848.

Biography

Bourret received a classical education at the Gymnasium in Nicolet. After he had worked for three years with his uncle, he was admitted to the bar in 1823. When his uncle died ten years later, he formed a partnership with Toussaint Pelletier. In 1834 he married his daughter Emélie, but died shortly afterwards. In 1839 he married Marie- Stéphanie Bédard, with whom he had nine children. Bourret was a moderate nationalist; In 1843 he was one of the founders of the charity Société Saint -Jean -Baptiste de Montréal, which also promoted the French-Canadian culture. He himself presided in the years 1848 and 1849. Additionally, he was co-founder of the Savings Bank of the City and District Montreal ( Banque d' Epargne de la Cite et du District de Montréal). She was one of the first French-Canadian financial institutions and was supported by the Roman Catholic Church.

1840 convened the colonial government Bourret in the Montreal City Council. In the years 1842-1844 he served for the first time as mayor. Since that time Montreal was the capital of the province of Canada, he presented to Parliament the market hall Sainte -Anne available. He was instrumental in the realization of the Marché Bonsecours, as well as in the planning of new aqueducts. After the death of John Eeston Mills in November 1847, he took over the pro tempore for a little more than a year again the office of mayor. Bourret was politically active at the national level. In 1848 he was appointed to the Legislative Council, the upper house of the province of Canada. From April 1850 to October 1851 he was a member of the government of Louis -Hippolyte La Fontaine and Robert Baldwin, as Minister of Public Works. Until his death he remained a member of the Legislative Council.