Charles-François Bailly de Messein
Encyclopedia
Charles François Bailly de Messein (4 November 1740 – 20 May 1794) was a priest
active in the British province of Quebec
during the American Revolutionary War
. He is best known for his Loyalist
activism during the American invasion of Quebec
, when he was injured during the Battle of Saint-Pierre
, and for publicly supporting a planned university that his bishop opposed.
on November 11, 1740. His parents sent him to study at the to College Louis-le-Grand in Paris. He was ordained to the priesthood at the Quebec Seminary on March 10th, 1767. He was sent as a missionary to Nova Scotia from 1767 to 1771.
On his return to Quebec in 1772, Bailly became professor of rhetoric
at the Quebec Seminary, a post he held for four years. He was admitted as a member of the board of directors of the seminary in December 1774, the same year he wrote his paper Rhetorica in Seminario Quebecensi.
, Bailly travelled in the spring 1776 to the southern coast of the Saint Lawrence River
, preaching fidelity to England to his compatriots. Wounded in the abdomen, he convalesced at the seminary, and then became parish priest in Point-aux-Trembles (now Neuville
), near Quebec City, in September 1777. In 1778, Bailly became a tutor to the children of Guy Carleton
, the governor of the province, and accompanied the family on a voyage to London. In June 1786, Carleton was elevated to the peerage as Baron Dorchester and succeeded in imposing Bailly's candidature as coadjutor to the bishop of Quebec. The bishop, Monseigneur Jean-François Hubert
, did not agree with the governor's choice. Bailly had a letter published in the Quebec Gazette on April 29, 1790 openly criticizing his superior.
In October of the same year, he published a report in favour of the foundation of a secular coeducational university. Bishop Hubert had already publicly expressed his opposition to such a project, but Bailly responded with eloquence, saying "I believe Monseigneur Hubert is convinced of his inadequacy and of his too great sufficiency." From then on all communications between the two men ceased. Bailly's presence at the seminary became extremely rare and even the governor repudiated him. In April 1794, with his health decaying, he was brought by launch to the Hôpital Général de Québec
where he died on May 20, 1794.
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
active in the British province of Quebec
Province of Quebec (1763-1791)
The Province of Quebec was a colony in North America created by Great Britain after the Seven Years' War. Great Britain acquired Canada by the Treaty of Paris when King Louis XV of France and his advisors chose to keep the territory of Guadeloupe for its valuable sugar crops instead of New France...
during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. He is best known for his Loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
activism during the American invasion of Quebec
Invasion of Canada (1775)
The Invasion of Canada in 1775 was the first major military initiative by the newly formed Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The objective of the campaign was to gain military control of the British Province of Quebec, and convince the French-speaking Canadiens to join the...
, when he was injured during the Battle of Saint-Pierre
Battle of Saint-Pierre
The Battle of Saint-Pierre was a military confrontation on March 25, 1776, near the Quebec village of Saint-Pierre, south of Quebec City. This confrontation, which occurred during the Continental Army's siege of Quebec following its defeat at the Battle of Quebec, was between forces that were both...
, and for publicly supporting a planned university that his bishop opposed.
Early career
Charles François Bailly de Messein was born in VarennesVarennes, Quebec
Varennes is an off-island suburb of Montreal, in southwestern Quebec, Canada on the Saint Lawrence River in the Regional County Municipality of Lajemmerais. The city is approximately 15 miles from Downtown Montreal. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 20,950...
on November 11, 1740. His parents sent him to study at the to College Louis-le-Grand in Paris. He was ordained to the priesthood at the Quebec Seminary on March 10th, 1767. He was sent as a missionary to Nova Scotia from 1767 to 1771.
On his return to Quebec in 1772, Bailly became professor of rhetoric
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
at the Quebec Seminary, a post he held for four years. He was admitted as a member of the board of directors of the seminary in December 1774, the same year he wrote his paper Rhetorica in Seminario Quebecensi.
American invasion
During American invasion of QuebecInvasion of Canada (1775)
The Invasion of Canada in 1775 was the first major military initiative by the newly formed Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The objective of the campaign was to gain military control of the British Province of Quebec, and convince the French-speaking Canadiens to join the...
, Bailly travelled in the spring 1776 to the southern coast of the Saint Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
, preaching fidelity to England to his compatriots. Wounded in the abdomen, he convalesced at the seminary, and then became parish priest in Point-aux-Trembles (now Neuville
Neuville, Quebec
Neuville is a village on the north shore of the Saint Laurence River, just west of Quebec City, part of the Portneuf Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada. It was founded in 1684, and has remained quite picturesque throughout these years....
), near Quebec City, in September 1777. In 1778, Bailly became a tutor to the children of Guy Carleton
Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, KB , known between 1776 and 1786 as Sir Guy Carleton, was an Irish-British soldier and administrator...
, the governor of the province, and accompanied the family on a voyage to London. In June 1786, Carleton was elevated to the peerage as Baron Dorchester and succeeded in imposing Bailly's candidature as coadjutor to the bishop of Quebec. The bishop, Monseigneur Jean-François Hubert
Jean-François Hubert
Jean-François Hubert, , bishop of Quebec, trained at the Sulpician seminary in Montreal. He was taken under the protection of Bishop Dubreil and served for a time as the bishop's secretary....
, did not agree with the governor's choice. Bailly had a letter published in the Quebec Gazette on April 29, 1790 openly criticizing his superior.
In October of the same year, he published a report in favour of the foundation of a secular coeducational university. Bishop Hubert had already publicly expressed his opposition to such a project, but Bailly responded with eloquence, saying "I believe Monseigneur Hubert is convinced of his inadequacy and of his too great sufficiency." From then on all communications between the two men ceased. Bailly's presence at the seminary became extremely rare and even the governor repudiated him. In April 1794, with his health decaying, he was brought by launch to the Hôpital Général de Québec
Hôpital général de Québec
LHôpital général de Québec is a hospital located in the tiny municipality of Notre-Dame-des-Anges, Quebec , surrounded by the La Cité–Limoilou borough of Quebec City . It was classified as an historic site in 1977 by the Quebec government...
where he died on May 20, 1794.