Charles Alphonse Pantaléon Pelletier

Sir Charles Alphonse Pantaléon Pelletier, KCMG PC (January 22, 1837 – April 29, 1911) was a Canadian lawyer, militia officer, politician, publisher, judge, and the ninth Lieutenant Governor of Quebec.

The Right Honourable Charles Pelletier KCMG
Charles Alphonse Pantaléon Pelletier as he appeared in July, 1891
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Kamouraska
In office February 17, 1869 – February 2, 1877
Succeeded by	Charles-François Roy
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec for Québec-Est
In office March 4, 1873 – January 20, 1874
Preceded by	Jacques-Philippe Rhéaume
Succeeded by	Pierre-Vincent Valin
Senator for Grandville, Quebec
In office February 2, 1877 – September 1904
Nominated by	Alexander Mackenzie
Preceded by	Luc Letellier de St-Just
Succeeded by	Philippe-Auguste Choquette
9th Lieutenant Governor of Quebec
In office September 15, 1908 – April 29, 1911
Monarchs	Edward VII George V
Governor General	The Earl Grey
Premier	Lomer Gouin
Preceded by	Louis-Amable Jetté
Succeeded by	François Langelier
Personal details
Born	(1837-01-22)January 22, 1837 Rivière-Ouelle, Lower Canada
Died	April 29, 1911(1911-04-29) (aged 74) Sillery, Quebec
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Susanne Casgrain ​ (m. 1860)​
Alma mater	Université Laval
Occupation	lawyer, militia officer, politician, publisher, judge
Profession	politician
Cabinet	Minister of Agriculture (1877–1878)
Portfolio	Speaker of the Senate (1896–1901)

Biography

Born in Rivière-Ouelle, Lower Canada (now Quebec), the son of Jean-Marie Pelletier and Julie Painchaud, he studied law at the Université Laval, was called to the bar in 1860 and entered practice in Quebec City. He married Suzanne, the daughter of lawyer Charles-Eusèbe Casgrain in 1861; his wife died during childbirth the following year. In 1862, he joined the Canadian Militia as an officer with the Voltigeurs de Québec. A Captain by 1863, he became a major with the 9th Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles and saw active service with the battalion in 1866 during the Fenian Raids and retired from the militia in 1867. In 1866, he married Eugénie, the daughter of Marc-Pascal de Sales Laterrière, a doctor and seigneur. He was elected as a Liberal to the House of Commons of Canada representing the riding of Kamouraska, Quebec in a by-election held in 1869. There was no election in this riding in 1867 due to riots. He was re-elected in 1872 and 1874. He was also elected to represent Québec-Est in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec in an 1873 by-election; he resigned this seat in 1874 when the dual mandate became illegal. From 1877 to 1878, he was the Minister of Agriculture in the federal cabinet.

 

Pelletier in regal dress, as the Lieutenant governor.

He was President of the Canadian Commission for the Paris World Fair in 1878. He was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for his work on this commission. In 1898, he was promoted to Knight Commander.

In 1877, he was appointed to the Senate of Canada representing the senatorial division of Grandville, Quebec. From 1896 to 1901, he was the Speaker of the Senate of Canada. He resigned in 1904 and was appointed a puisne judge of the Quebec Superior Court.

In 1908, he was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Quebec and served until his death in 1911.

References

• "Biography". Dictionnaire des parlementaires du Québec de 1792 à nos jours (in French). National Assembly of Quebec.
• "Charles Alphonse Pantaléon Pelletier". Dictionary of Canadian Biography (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. 1979–2016.
• Biography from the Ministry of Agriculture
• Charles Alphonse Pantaléon Pelletier – Parliament of Canada biography