George-Étienne Cartier, Father of Confederation
George Étienne Cartier, man, lawyer, patriot.
Cartier is one of the most important Fathers of Confederation, and a long time ally and friend to Sir John A. Macdonald. He was born in 1814 at St, Antoine, Lower Canada, and grew up in the Richelieu Valley. He trained as a lawyer at Supician's College in Montreal. He was a very patriotic man- and what better way to show your patriotism than to fight along side the British during the Rebellion of 1837. When the rebellion fell apart, he fled to the United States, but then returned home to finish his practice in 1838. Cartier was an incredibly successful lawyer, and he became the leading French-speaking corporation lawyer of Montreal. He specialized in railway companies, and in 1853 he was asked to be a lawyer for the Grand Trunk Railway, the largest railway enterprise in British North America at the time. If you think that was a high point in his career, wait till you hear this. Also at the time of becoming a lawyer for the GTR, he wrote the lyrics for 'O Canada'!
Cartier entered politics in 1848, and didn't look back. He was a member of the Vercheres County, a provincial secretary for Canada East, an attorney general for Canada East, and in 1857 he became the leader of the French-Canadian wing of the Conservative party. This position brought him close to John A Macdonald, who was filling the same position as him, but in Canada West. They showed similar interest in Canada; economic growth for Canada seemed to be a big one. They developed an important relationship for the Confederation of Canada.
The duo functioned as joint leaders in the first of a handful of ministries in 1857. The ministry was defeated in the Assembly of June 29, 1858, but came back to power on August 6th of the same year due to a legal technicality. It then survived until 1862 but had increasing challenges carrying out a legislative program against attacks from the "Grits" of Canada West. The "Grits" didn't like the French-Canadian influence in the government and wanted to recreate the government on the basis of "representation by population" in the legislature instead of equality by territory.
Cartier was out of office for two years until he returned as his previous position, the attorney general of Canada West, along with, you guessed it, Macdonald. This event happened in March of 1864, three years away from the Confederation of Canada. In June he created the Great Coalition, along with George Brown and Macdonald. This ministry was made to look over the possibilities of a federation for all British North American colonies. Cartier's role in Confederation was a great one; he was basically the representative for the French-Canadian population. He helped to work out the language and educational guarantees for the French-speaking minority. He didn't stop there. He then used his immense influence on Quebec to convince them to join Confederation. For his amazing contributions to Confederation, Cartier was made a baronet by the British government in 1868. A baronet is a title of honor awarded by the British. It is above all other orders of knighthood except the Garter. Cartier also attended all three conferences leading up to Confederation. This would be a sign to England, that he was committed to the idea of Confederation.
The first cabinet of Canada was formed with Macdonald as the prime minister, and Cartier being the minister of militia. In 1868 Cartier went to England to arrange the purchase of the lands owned by the Hudson Bay Company. These lands were in the West and they were essential to obtain if the transcontinental railway project was to be a reality. Macdonald thought of this as a necessary step since he wanted to create a state across northern North America. Of course, with his background, George-Étienne Cartier was a great supporter of this project.
Cartier came form a wealthy family of grain exporters and millers, and, supposedly, was a descendant of Jacques Cartier!
http://www.answers.com/topic/george-tienne-cartier
http://www.biographybase.com/biography/Cartier_George_Etienne.html
http://cac.mcgill.ca/maxwells/essay/Cat57a.jpg
Picture of the monument to George Étienne Cartier in Montreal
Cartier entered politics in 1848, and didn't look back. He was a member of the Vercheres County, a provincial secretary for Canada East, an attorney general for Canada East, and in 1857 he became the leader of the French-Canadian wing of the Conservative party. This position brought him close to John A Macdonald, who was filling the same position as him, but in Canada West. They showed similar interest in Canada; economic growth for Canada seemed to be a big one. They developed an important relationship for the Confederation of Canada.
The duo functioned as joint leaders in the first of a handful of ministries in 1857. The ministry was defeated in the Assembly of June 29, 1858, but came back to power on August 6th of the same year due to a legal technicality. It then survived until 1862 but had increasing challenges carrying out a legislative program against attacks from the "Grits" of Canada West. The "Grits" didn't like the French-Canadian influence in the government and wanted to recreate the government on the basis of "representation by population" in the legislature instead of equality by territory.
Cartier was out of office for two years until he returned as his previous position, the attorney general of Canada West, along with, you guessed it, Macdonald. This event happened in March of 1864, three years away from the Confederation of Canada. In June he created the Great Coalition, along with George Brown and Macdonald. This ministry was made to look over the possibilities of a federation for all British North American colonies. Cartier's role in Confederation was a great one; he was basically the representative for the French-Canadian population. He helped to work out the language and educational guarantees for the French-speaking minority. He didn't stop there. He then used his immense influence on Quebec to convince them to join Confederation. For his amazing contributions to Confederation, Cartier was made a baronet by the British government in 1868. A baronet is a title of honor awarded by the British. It is above all other orders of knighthood except the Garter. Cartier also attended all three conferences leading up to Confederation. This would be a sign to England, that he was committed to the idea of Confederation.
The first cabinet of Canada was formed with Macdonald as the prime minister, and Cartier being the minister of militia. In 1868 Cartier went to England to arrange the purchase of the lands owned by the Hudson Bay Company. These lands were in the West and they were essential to obtain if the transcontinental railway project was to be a reality. Macdonald thought of this as a necessary step since he wanted to create a state across northern North America. Of course, with his background, George-Étienne Cartier was a great supporter of this project.
Cartier came form a wealthy family of grain exporters and millers, and, supposedly, was a descendant of Jacques Cartier!
http://www.answers.com/topic/george-tienne-cartier
http://www.biographybase.com/biography/Cartier_George_Etienne.html
http://cac.mcgill.ca/maxwells/essay/Cat57a.jpg
Picture of the monument to George Étienne Cartier in Montreal
