Biography of george etienne cartier

During the 25 years of his active political life, Cartier wielded great influence and authority in Canada East (Lower Canada; present-day Quebec).

Before him are Stephen Mallory, Per Georg Scheutz, Gustav Rose, John Torrey, Charles Allston Collins, and Manuel Ignacio de Vivanco. They were motivated in part by the desire to enrich themselves and to back their own supporters, and corruption and favouritism regularly found their way into their strategies, notably during the implementation of large government projects.

He fought with Louis-Joseph Papineau in the Patriotes Rebellion of 1837, and was forced into temporary exile in Vermont. The defeat was attributed to dissatisfaction from the Catholic Church over his support for secular education.

Later Life and Legacy

Cartier retired from politics in 1873 and died in London, England, on May 20, 1873.

Motivated partly by their desire to find lasting solutions to political, economic, and social problems, the leaders of United Canada, with Cartier and John A. Macdonald at their head, developed scenarios for federating the British colonies of North America [see The Charlottetown and Quebec City Conferences of 1864]. Yet he rapidly distanced himself from it, as documented in a letter he sent in September 1838 to Charles Buller, chief secretary to Lord Durham.

Cartier belonged to the group of players in the political life of United Canada who, between 1841 and 1867, succeeded in instituting reforms in the colony.

His father, Jacques Cartier, was a prominent salt and fish merchant, while his grandfather established the town and became wealthy through grain trading.

At the age of 10, Cartier began his education under the guidance of his mother. A supporter of some form of responsible government, he became the trusted associate of Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine in Montreal in the 1840s.

On these issues, political decision makers felt a sense of urgency.

After him are Salustiano de Olózaga y Almandoz, Robert McClure, Hamilton Hume, William J. Hardee, and John W. Geary.

Others Born in 1814

In Canada

Among people born in Canada, George-Étienne Cartier ranks 557 out of 1,622.

Among people deceased in 1873, George-Étienne Cartier ranks 78. Accused by his opponents of being the “liegeman” of the railway entrepreneurs, Cartier became, together with Toussaint Trudeau and Asa Belknap Foster, one of the major players in this industry, which was vital to a country whose territory and population was rapidly increasing.

Cartier and other 19th-century Canadian politicians were involved in controversy and scandal.

One of the Fathers of Confederation, Cartier belonged to a generation of French Canadian politicians who made a significant contribution to the building of modern Canada. He was one of the Fathers of Confederation, who laid the institutional foundation of a federal system characterized by the sharing of powers between a central government and provincial governments.

Cartier himself fought on the side of the Patriotes at the battle of Saint-Denis on 23 Nov. 1837. Assisted by civil servants and members of the military and police force, such as George Futvoye, Patrick Robertson-Ross, and Frederick William Ermatinger, he undertook major reforms of the military.

He was also interested in westward territorial expansion, the economy, and transportation.

Before him are Dimitrios Valvis, Nicolaas Beets, Oskar Kolberg, Juan Rafael Mora Porras, Samuel J. Tilden, and Franz von Dingelstedt. There were many factors to consider.