Pierre Guerout
Encyclopedia
Pierre Guerout was a businessman and political figure in Lower Canada
.
He was born Pierre-Guillaume Guerout in the parish of Mille Ville, Rouen
, France
in 1751, the son of a Huguenot
merchant, and came to Quebec City
around 1767. He apprenticed with his uncle, François Lévesque
. He took part in the defence of the town against the American
invasion of 1775-6. He later set up his own business and had moved to Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu
by 1783. In 1785, he was named a justice of the peace there. He moved to Saint-Denis
in 1787. In 1792, Guerout was elected to the 1st Parliament of Lower Canada
for Richelieu County. In 1802, he was named lieutenant-colonel in the local militia. He was named a commissioner for the improvement of internal communications in 1817; this commission was responsible for maintenance and upkeep of roads and transportation on the Richelieu River
between William-Henry (later Sorel) and Chambly
. In 1821, he was named commissioner for the trial of small causes.
In 1827, he suffered an attack of apoplexy
that left him incapable of managing his affairs and his son took over the operation of the business. Guerout died at William-Henry in 1830.
His cousin, François Lévesque
, also served in the legislative assembly.
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
.
He was born Pierre-Guillaume Guerout in the parish of Mille Ville, Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1751, the son of a Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
merchant, and came to 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...
around 1767. He apprenticed with his uncle, François Lévesque
François Lévesque
François Lévesque was a French-born merchant and political figure in Quebec. He served as a member of the Legislative and Executive Councils....
. He took part in the defence of the town against the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
invasion of 1775-6. He later set up his own business and had moved to Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu
Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu is a municipality in southwestern Quebec, Canada, on the Richelieu River in the Regional County Municipality of La Vallée-du-Richelieu. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 1,594.-Population:Population trend...
by 1783. In 1785, he was named a justice of the peace there. He moved to Saint-Denis
Saint-Denis, Quebec
Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu is a municipality in the southwestern part of the Province of Quebec, Canada on the Richelieu River in the Regional County Municipality of La Vallée-du-Richelieu...
in 1787. In 1792, Guerout was elected to the 1st Parliament of Lower Canada
1st Parliament of Lower Canada
The 1st Parliament of Lower Canada was in session from December 17, 1792 to May 31, 1796. Elections in Lower Canada had been held in June 1792. All sessions were held at Quebec City.- External links :***...
for Richelieu County. In 1802, he was named lieutenant-colonel in the local militia. He was named a commissioner for the improvement of internal communications in 1817; this commission was responsible for maintenance and upkeep of roads and transportation on the Richelieu River
Richelieu River
The Richelieu River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows from the north end of Lake Champlain about north, ending at the confluence with the St. Lawrence River at Sorel-Tracy, Quebec downstream and northeast of Montreal...
between William-Henry (later Sorel) and Chambly
Chambly, Quebec
Chambly is a city in southwestern Quebec, Canada, about to the south east of Montreal.- Geography :It sits on the Richelieu River in the Regional County Municipality of La-Vallée-du-Richelieu, at .-History:...
. In 1821, he was named commissioner for the trial of small causes.
In 1827, he suffered an attack of apoplexy
Apoplexy
Apoplexy is a medical term, which can be used to describe 'bleeding' in a stroke . Without further specification, it is rather outdated in use. Today it is used only for specific conditions, such as pituitary apoplexy and ovarian apoplexy. In common speech, it is used non-medically to mean a state...
that left him incapable of managing his affairs and his son took over the operation of the business. Guerout died at William-Henry in 1830.
His cousin, François Lévesque
François Lévesque (lawyer)
François Lévesque was a lawyer and political figure in Lower Canada. He represented Surrey in the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada from 1800 to 1804....
, also served in the legislative assembly.