Politician; born in
Montreal,
Canada, in October, 1789; educated at the Seminary of Quebec; admitted to the bar; and entered the
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Lower Canadian Parliament in 1809, becoming speaker in 1815.
He became a leader of the radical, or opposition, party at the beginning of his public life.
He opposed the union of the two Canadas, at which the
English party aimed, and in 1823 he was sent on a mission to
London, to remonstrate against that measure.
In 1827 he was again a member of the
House, and elected its speaker; and in 1834 he introduced to that body a list of the demands and grievances of the
Lower Canadians, known as the “Ninety-two resolutions.”
He supported the resolutions with great ability, and recommended constitutional resistance to the
British government and commercial non-intercourse with
England.
Matters were brought to a crisis in 1837, when the new governor (Lord Gosford) decided to administer the government without the assistance of the colonial Parliament.
The Liberal party flew to arms.
Papineau urged peaceful constitutional opposition, but an insurrection was begun that could not be allayed by persuasion, and he took refuge in the
United States at the close of that year.
In 1839 he went to
France, where he engaged in literary pursuits about eight years. After the union of the Canadas, in 1841, and a general amnesty for political offences was proclaimed, in 1844,
Papineau returned to his native country (1847), and was made a member of the Canadian Parliament.
After 1854 he took no part in public affairs.
He died in
Montebello, Quebec, Sept. 23, 1871.
