Joseph Quesnel

Joseph Quesnel (* November 15, 1749 in Saint- Malo, † July 3, 1809 in Montreal) was a Canadian composer, poet, writer and actor.

Quesnel graduated from the Collège Saint -Louis in his hometown and then visited as a sailor on a three-year voyage Pondicherry in India, Madagascar, French Guinea, the West Indies and Brazil. Then he settled down as a business partner of his uncle Louis -Auguste Quesnel in Bordeaux.

In 1779 he transported as captain of a sailing ship ammunition and goods for the rebels to America. Before Nova Scotia it was applied by the British and came to Halifax in custody. On intervention of the Governor of Quebec, Frederick Haldimand, he was released and allowed to settle in Canada.

He married in Montreal, Canada's Marie- Josephte Deslandes and operated a as an exporter of furs to France and importer of wine to Canada. He also worked as a musician and poet. His two " prose comedies mixed with ariettas ' " Colas et Colinette and Lucas et Cécile are considered the first incurred in Canada operatic compositions. He also composed songs, duets, quartets, symphonies and motets that have gone but lost. He also wrote several plays and poems. Some of his poems were republished in Jules Fournier's Anthology of poètes canadiens 1920.

Of his thirteen children were known Frédéric -Auguste Quesnel as a politician and Jules -Maurice Quesnel as the discoverer. His grandson, Charles -Joseph Coursol was mayor of Montreal.

452398
de