Édouard-Étienne Rodier
Encyclopedia
Édouard-Étienne Rodier was a lawyer and political figure in Lower Canada
.
He was born Étienne-Édouard Rodier in Montreal
in 1804, the son of a Montreal merchant, and studied at the Petit Séminaire de Montréal. He studied law with Hippolyte Saint-Georges Dupré and then Dominique-Benjamin Rollin; Rodier was called to the bar in 1827 and set up practice at Montreal. In 1826, he had married Julie-Victoire Dumont, the daughter of a cooper
; she died in 1829. In 1831, he married Elise, the daughter of Benjamin Beaupré
, a merchant at L'Assomption
. Rodier moved to L'Assomption; he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
for that region in an 1832 by-election held after Barthélemy Joliette
was appointed to the legislative council. Rodier was reelected in 1834. As a radical member of the parti patriote, he supported an elected legislative council, the creation of a French Canadian republic, the end of seigneurial tenure
and ending trade with Great Britain
. Rodier voted in support of the Ninety-Two Resolutions
. He gave speeches in 1837 that encouraged armed revolt and was a leader in the Fils de la Liberté. After a riot in Montreal, a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was wounded in a clash in December and was brought to Swanton, Vermont. He took part in the preparation of a declaration of independence
for Lower Canada in February 1838.
In October 1838, he returned his family and law practice in L'Assomption. He was branded by the remaining Patriotes as a traitor. He died at Montreal in 1840.
His cousin Charles-Séraphin Rodier later served as mayor of Montreal.
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 Étienne-Édouard Rodier in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in 1804, the son of a Montreal merchant, and studied at the Petit Séminaire de Montréal. He studied law with Hippolyte Saint-Georges Dupré and then Dominique-Benjamin Rollin; Rodier was called to the bar in 1827 and set up practice at Montreal. In 1826, he had married Julie-Victoire Dumont, the daughter of a cooper
Cooper (profession)
Traditionally, a cooper is someone who makes wooden staved vessels of a conical form, of greater length than breadth, bound together with hoops and possessing flat ends or heads...
; she died in 1829. In 1831, he married Elise, the daughter of Benjamin Beaupré
Benjamin Beaupré
Benjamin Beaupré was a businessman and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in 1780, probably at L'Assomption. He was a merchant and served as captain in the local militia. In 1804, Beaupré married Julie Mercier, the daughter of a merchant. In 1816, he was elected to the Legislative...
, a merchant at L'Assomption
L'Assomption, Quebec
L'Assomption is an off-island suburb of Montreal, in southwestern Quebec, Canada on the L'Assomption River. It is the seat of the Regional County Municipality of L'Assomption. It is located on the outer fringes of the Montreal urban area....
. Rodier moved to L'Assomption; he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada was the lower house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The legislative assembly was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791...
for that region in an 1832 by-election held after Barthélemy Joliette
Barthélemy Joliette
Barthélemy Joliette was a notary, businessman, seigneur and political figure in Lower Canada and Canada East....
was appointed to the legislative council. Rodier was reelected in 1834. As a radical member of the parti patriote, he supported an elected legislative council, the creation of a French Canadian republic, the end of seigneurial tenure
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:...
and ending trade with Great Britain
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
. Rodier voted in support of the Ninety-Two Resolutions
Ninety-Two Resolutions
The Ninety-Two Resolutions were drafted by Louis-Joseph Papineau and other members of the Parti patriote of Lower Canada in 1834. The resolutions were a long series of demands for political reforms in the British-governed colony....
. He gave speeches in 1837 that encouraged armed revolt and was a leader in the Fils de la Liberté. After a riot in Montreal, a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was wounded in a clash in December and was brought to Swanton, Vermont. He took part in the preparation of a declaration of independence
Declaration of Independence of Lower Canada
The Declaration of Independence of Lower Canada was written in French by the patriot rebel Robert Nelson on February 22, 1838, while in exile in the United States, after the first rebellion of 1837....
for Lower Canada in February 1838.
In October 1838, he returned his family and law practice in L'Assomption. He was branded by the remaining Patriotes as a traitor. He died at Montreal in 1840.
His cousin Charles-Séraphin Rodier later served as mayor of Montreal.