Philippe-Joseph Aubert de Gaspé
Encyclopedia
Philippe-Joseph Aubert de Gaspé (30 October 1786 – 29 January 1871) was a French Canadian
writer
and seigneur
.
He was born at Quebec City
in 1786, the son of seigneur Pierre-Ignace Aubert de Gaspé
and Catherine Tarieu de Lanaudière, the daughter of seigneur Charles-François Tarieu de La Naudière
. The Aubert de Gaspé
family was distinguished, ennobled by Louis XIV
in 1693. Philippe-Joseph's grandfather, Ignace-Philippe Aubert de Gaspé, fought under Montcalm
at Carillon (Ticonderoga). Philippe-Joseph studied at the Séminaire de Québec. He studied law with Jonathan Sewell
and then with Jean-Baptiste-Olivier Perrault
and was called to the bar in 1811. Aubert de Gaspé served in the local militia, becoming captain. After practising law until 1816, he was appointed sheriff for Quebec district.
Forced by misfortune to retire to his ancestral home at Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec
, on the St. Lawrence, Aubert de Gaspé spent thirty years in study there. At the ripe age of seventy-five, he completed a novel entitled, Les Anciens Canadiens (Quebec, 1863). Almost entirely based on fact, the story illustrates Canadian national tradition, character and manners. The author interwove events of his own chequered life with the tragic tale of the struggles and fall of New France
and of the change of regime, the eyewitnesses of which he had known personally.
In 1866, Aubert de Gaspé published his Mémoires, which continue and amplify the precious historical notes contained in his other works. Less brilliant and attractive than his novel, the Mémoires are an excellent specimen of anecdotal history. The author's standing and experience, the latter embracing directly or indirectly the space of a century dating from the Conquest, constitute him an authentic chronicler of an obscure yet eventful period of history.
Aubert de Gaspé was the last seigneur of Saint-Jean-Port-Joli. He died at Quebec City in 1871.
Several of his daughters married political figures:
His daughter Charlotte-Elmire married Andrew Stuart
, a judge and seigneur.
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and seigneur
Seigneurial system of New France
The seigneurial system of New France was the semi-feudal system of land distribution used in the North American colonies of New France.-Introduction to New France:...
.
He was born at Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
in 1786, the son of seigneur Pierre-Ignace Aubert de Gaspé
Pierre-Ignace Aubert de Gaspé
Pierre-Ignace Aubert de Gaspé was a seigneur and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in Quebec City in 1758, the son of Ignace-Philippe Aubert de Gaspé, and studied at the Petit Séminaire de Québec. He helped defend the province against the invasion by the Americans in 1775-6...
and Catherine Tarieu de Lanaudière, the daughter of seigneur Charles-François Tarieu de La Naudière
Charles-François Tarieu de La Naudière
Charles-François Tarieu de La Naudière was an officer in the colonial regular troops and seigneur in Lower Canada. He was the father of Charles-Gaspard Tarieu de Lanaudière who became a political figure in Lower Canada....
. The Aubert de Gaspé
Aubert de Gaspé
The Aubert de Gaspé family was a French Canadian family descended from Charles Aubert de La Chesnaye, with several notable members:* Ignace-Philippe Aubert de Gaspé , army officer...
family was distinguished, ennobled by Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
in 1693. Philippe-Joseph's grandfather, Ignace-Philippe Aubert de Gaspé, fought under Montcalm
Montcalm
- People :*Louis-Joseph de Montcalm, commander of the French forces in North America during the French and Indian War- Vessels :* French ship Montcalm, four ships of the French Navy...
at Carillon (Ticonderoga). Philippe-Joseph studied at the Séminaire de Québec. He studied law with Jonathan Sewell
Jonathan Sewell
Jonathan Sewell was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Lower Canada.-Early life:He was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the son of the last British attorney general of Massachusetts...
and then with Jean-Baptiste-Olivier Perrault
Olivier Perrault
Olivier Perrault was a seigneur, lawyer, judge and political figure in Lower Canada. He was also sometimes known as Jean-Baptiste-Olivier Perrault....
and was called to the bar in 1811. Aubert de Gaspé served in the local militia, becoming captain. After practising law until 1816, he was appointed sheriff for Quebec district.
Forced by misfortune to retire to his ancestral home at Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec
Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec
Saint-Jean-Port-Joli is a village in the Regional County Municipality of L'Islet within the Chaudière-Appalaches region of Quebec, Canada. It is located on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River and is the county seat. The village is located off the Trans-Canada Highway, Autoroute 20...
, on the St. Lawrence, Aubert de Gaspé spent thirty years in study there. At the ripe age of seventy-five, he completed a novel entitled, Les Anciens Canadiens (Quebec, 1863). Almost entirely based on fact, the story illustrates Canadian national tradition, character and manners. The author interwove events of his own chequered life with the tragic tale of the struggles and fall of New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
and of the change of regime, the eyewitnesses of which he had known personally.
In 1866, Aubert de Gaspé published his Mémoires, which continue and amplify the precious historical notes contained in his other works. Less brilliant and attractive than his novel, the Mémoires are an excellent specimen of anecdotal history. The author's standing and experience, the latter embracing directly or indirectly the space of a century dating from the Conquest, constitute him an authentic chronicler of an obscure yet eventful period of history.
Aubert de Gaspé was the last seigneur of Saint-Jean-Port-Joli. He died at Quebec City in 1871.
Several of his daughters married political figures:
- Zoé married Charles Joseph AlleynCharles Joseph AlleynCharles Joseph Alleyn was a Quebec lawyer and political figure.He was born in County Cork, Ireland in 1817 and studied at Clongowes Wood College. Alleyn came to Lower Canada with his family around 1837. He was called to the bar in 1840. He supported the annexation movement in Quebec...
, who was also mayor of Quebec City - Suzanne married William PowerWilliam Power (Quebec judge)William Power was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Quebec. He represented Gaspé in the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada from 1832 to 1838....
, a member of the legislative assembly - Adélaïde married Georges-René Saveuse de BeaujeuGeorges-René Saveuse de BeaujeuGeorges-René Saveuse de Beaujeu, Comte de Beaujeu was a seigneur and political figure in Canada East.He was born in Montreal in 1810, the son of seigneur Jacques-Philippe Saveuse de Beaujeu and Catherine Chaussegros de Léry, daughter of Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry. He studied at the Collège...
His daughter Charlotte-Elmire married Andrew Stuart
Andrew Stuart (seigneur)
Sir Andrew Stuart was a Quebec lawyer, judge, seigneur and businessman.He was born at Quebec City in 1812, the son of Andrew Stuart, and studied at Edward Parkin's school at Chambly. He articled with his uncle Sir James Stuart 1st., Bt. and then with Henry Black, was called to the bar in 1834 and...
, a judge and seigneur.