Читать книгу A Cyclopædia of Canadian Biography - Various - Страница 180
Garneau, Pierre
ОглавлениеGarneau, Hon. Pierre, Quebec, Member of the Executive Council, and Commissioner of Crown Lands for the province of Quebec, was born at Cap Santé, Quebec province, on the 8th May, 1823. His ancestors came from France in 1636, and were a family held in high estimation. Hon. Mr. Garneau received his education in his native parish, and shortly after leaving school removed to Quebec city, where he entered into business, and after some years became a leading merchant and public spirited citizen. In 1870 he was elected mayor of the city, and performed the high and important duties of the office so faithfully that on the expiration of his two years’ term he was unanimously re-elected for another two years. He was chief promoter, and became president, of the Quebec and Gulf Ports Steamship Company (now the Quebec Steamship Company); was president of the Quebec Street Railway for fifteen years, when he resigned in 1878; was a government director of the North Shore Railway for many years; and a member of the Canal Commission in 1870. He is a director of the Quebec and Lake St. John Lumber and Trading Company; of the Deléry Gold Mining Company; of La Banque Nationale; of the Quebec Fire Assurance Company; vice-president of the Quebec and Levis Electric Light Co.; and a member of the Quebec Board of Trade. In September, 1874, Hon. Mr. Garneau was appointed a member of the Executive Council, and became commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works for Quebec province; and shortly afterwards held the portfolio of Crown Lands. In March, 1878, the de Boucherville government, of which he was a member, having been defeated, he resigned with his colleagues. He was first elected to the Quebec legislature on the 11th March, 1873, for the county of Quebec, on the resignation of the sitting member; and was re-elected at the general election in 1875. He was an unsuccessful candidate at the general election of 1878, and remained out until 1881, when he was again returned by acclamation. At the general election, held in 1886, he was again forced to retire; but in January, 1887, he was appointed a member of the Legislative Council for De la Durantaye, and became commissioner of Crown Lands in the Mercier administration. Hon. Mr. Garneau was the head and only surviving partner of the well-known wholesale dry goods firm of P. Garneau et Frère, a firm that has been held in the highest repute for years throughout Canada and Europe, and is now senior partner of the firm of P. Garneau, Fils & Cie. In politics he is a Conservative, and in religion a member of the Roman Catholic church. In September, 1857, he was married to Cecilia Burroughs, daughter of the late Edward Burroughs, a well-known and highly respected prothonotary of Quebec. Two sons have been the issue of this marriage.