Joseph Bourret
Joseph Bourret | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec |
| Died | March 5, 1859 (aged 56) |
| Occupation(s) | Lawyer, banker, politician |
| Years active | 1823–1859 |
| Known for | Mayor of Montreal, Minister of Public Works, founding Banque d’Épargne de la Cité et du District de Montréal, president of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society |
Joseph Bourret (June 10, 1802 – March 5, 1859) was a notable Canadian figure of the 19th century, distinguished as a lawyer, banker, and political leader.
After completing his studies at the Classical College in Nicolet, Quebec, Bourret entered the legal profession in 1823, following a three-year apprenticeship with his uncle. He spent ten years practicing law within his uncle’s firm before forming a partnership with the esteemed attorney Toussaint Pelletier.
In 1840, the colonial administration appointed Bourret to Montreal's city council. Subsequently, he was elected as councillor for the Centre Quarter in 1842 and then represented Quartier St. Antoine from 1846 until 1852. His leadership roles included serving as Montreal’s third mayor from 1842 to 1844 and again as its sixth mayor between 1847 and 1849. Additionally, he held the portfolio of minister of public works under the Lafontaine-Baldwin administration. From 1848 until his passing in 1859, Bourret was a member of Canada’s legislative council.
Endorsed by Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine as a moderate figure who resonated with Montreal’s largely Anglo-Saxon population, Bourret aligned with Lafontaine in advocating for responsible government while providing a tempered alternative to the more radical factions involved in the Rebellions of 1837.
Dedicated to safeguarding French-Canadian culture, Bourret played a key role in founding the Banque d’Épargne de la Cité et du District de Montréal—one of the earliest financial institutions in French Canada designed to serve working-class Quebecers with significant support from the Roman Catholic Church. In partnership with Ludger Duvernay, he revitalized the mutual aid group that evolved into the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society, later assuming its presidency from 1848 to 1849.
During Montreal's period as the capital of the Province of Canada, Bourret contributed significantly to major public works projects such as the Saint Anne Market Building—later donated to the Parliament of the Canadas—the erection of the Bonsecours Market, and developments related to aqueduct infrastructure. Following a cholera epidemic during his second term as mayor, he championed the establishment of a reliable water supply system aimed at enhancing public health standards.
Personal life
Born on June 10, 1802, in Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec, Joseph Bourret was the son of Joseph Bourret, a farmer, and Angélique Lemaître-Bellenoix. He married Emélie Pelletier in 1834 and later wed Marie-Stéphanie Bédard in 1839; his second marriage resulted in nine children. Bourret passed away while still active professionally on March 5, 1859, at age 56. His funeral was conducted at Notre-Dame Basilica. In recognition of his legacy, Bourret Avenue in Côte-des-Neiges bears his name.