Édouard Richard
Encyclopedia
Édouard-Émery Richard was a Canadian
historian and politician.
Richard was born in Princeville
, Quebec
to Louis-Eusèbe Richard and Hermine Prince. After receiving his law degree in 1867, taking courses at both Université Laval
and McGill College, Richard began to practice in Arthabaskaville with Wilfrid Laurier
. He practiced for several years before being elected to the House of Commons
from Megantic
in 1872
and was re-elected in 1874
. His health forced him to not seek reelection in the 1878 Canadian Parliamentary elections. Politically, Richard was a liberal protectionist.
Richard became the sheriff of the Northwest Territories
soon after leaving the House of Commons, and remained in that position until January 1883. After resigning from his post as sheriff, he sought election to the House of Commons again in 1883 in St. Boniface
, but was defeated by Alphonse Alfred Clément Larivière
. Richard sought election once more, in 1889 in Provencher
, but Lariviére again defeated him.
In between his political posts, Richard was also a fairly successful businessman. Unfortunately, his political campaigns and frequent ill health prevented him from ever amassing substantial wealth.
Richard was of Acadian
heritage. Following his last failed campaign, Richard returned to Arthabaskaville and began to immerse himself in his heritage. He fervently promoted the Acadian cause, petitioning for an Acadian museum, working on his own research, and even starting a campaign for reparations
. An 1893 article in Toronto by Pierce Stevens Hamilton and histories by Francis Parkman
and Thomas Beamish Akins
spurred Richard to begin his own published history. His work, Acadia, Missing Links of a Lost Chapter in American History, was published in two volumes in 1895. His work was controversial, both for mixing English
and French
in text and, more significantly, lacking annotations and citations. His book was republished with annotations added by his cousin, Henri d'Arles, from 1916 to 1921. Despite this controversy, his work brought him accolades, including an election to the Royal Society of Canada
and an honorary doctorate from Université Laval. In 1897, Richard, who never married, was named the successor to Joseph Marmette
as the official Canadian archivist in France
. This was his last main work before his death in Willow Bunch
, Saskatchewan
in 1904.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
historian and politician.
Richard was born in Princeville
Princeville, Québec
Princeville is a city in the Canadian province of Quebec, located in L'Érable Regional County Municipality.The population was 5571 in 2006.-External links:*...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
to Louis-Eusèbe Richard and Hermine Prince. After receiving his law degree in 1867, taking courses at both Université Laval
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
and McGill College, Richard began to practice in Arthabaskaville with Wilfrid Laurier
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
. He practiced for several years before being elected to the House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
from Megantic
Mégantic (electoral district)
Mégantic was a federal electoral district in the province of Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1935, and from 1949 to 1968.-History:It was created by the British North America Act of 1867...
in 1872
Canadian federal election, 1872
The Canadian federal election of 1872 was held from July 20 to October 12, 1872, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 2nd Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Sir John A...
and was re-elected in 1874
Canadian federal election, 1874
The Canadian federal election of 1874 was held on January 22, 1874, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 3rd Parliament of Canada. Sir John A...
. His health forced him to not seek reelection in the 1878 Canadian Parliamentary elections. Politically, Richard was a liberal protectionist.
Richard became the sheriff of the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
soon after leaving the House of Commons, and remained in that position until January 1883. After resigning from his post as sheriff, he sought election to the House of Commons again in 1883 in St. Boniface
Saint Boniface (electoral district)
Saint Boniface is a federal electoral district that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1925. It is located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.In 1996, its English name was changed from "St. Boniface" to "Saint Boniface"....
, but was defeated by Alphonse Alfred Clément Larivière
Alphonse Alfred Clément Larivière
Alphonse Alfred Clément Larivière was a Canadian politician and journalist.Born in Montreal, Canada East, the son of Abraham C. Larivière and Adelaide Marcil, he was educated at the Collège Saint-Marie and the Montreal School of Military Instruction there. In 1867, he married Marie Melvina Bourdeau...
. Richard sought election once more, in 1889 in Provencher
Provencher (electoral district)
Provencher is a federal electoral district in Manitoba, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1871. It is largely a rural district, the largest community being the city of Steinbach, Manitoba.-Demographics:-History:...
, but Lariviére again defeated him.
In between his political posts, Richard was also a fairly successful businessman. Unfortunately, his political campaigns and frequent ill health prevented him from ever amassing substantial wealth.
Richard was of Acadian
Acadian
The Acadians are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia . Acadia was a colony of New France...
heritage. Following his last failed campaign, Richard returned to Arthabaskaville and began to immerse himself in his heritage. He fervently promoted the Acadian cause, petitioning for an Acadian museum, working on his own research, and even starting a campaign for reparations
Reparation (legal)
In jurisprudence, reparation is replenishment of a previously inflicted loss by the criminal to the victim. Monetary restitution is a common form of reparation...
. An 1893 article in Toronto by Pierce Stevens Hamilton and histories by Francis Parkman
Francis Parkman
Francis Parkman was an American historian, best known as author of The Oregon Trail: Sketches of Prairie and Rocky-Mountain Life and his monumental seven-volume France and England in North America. These works are still valued as history and especially as literature, although the biases of his...
and Thomas Beamish Akins
Thomas Beamish Akins
Thomas Beamish Akins was a Canadian lawyer, historian, archivist, and author who was appointed Nova Scotia's first Commissioner of Public Records from 1857 until his death in 1891....
spurred Richard to begin his own published history. His work, Acadia, Missing Links of a Lost Chapter in American History, was published in two volumes in 1895. His work was controversial, both for mixing English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
in text and, more significantly, lacking annotations and citations. His book was republished with annotations added by his cousin, Henri d'Arles, from 1916 to 1921. Despite this controversy, his work brought him accolades, including an election to the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
and an honorary doctorate from Université Laval. In 1897, Richard, who never married, was named the successor to Joseph Marmette
Joseph Marmette
Joseph-Étienne-Eugène Marmette was a Canadian novelist and historian.-Life:Born in Montmagny, Canada East, Marmette was educated at the Séminaire de Québec and Regiopolis College. He started studying law at the Université Laval but did not complete his studies. Instead he became a clerk in the...
as the official Canadian archivist in 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...
. This was his last main work before his death in Willow Bunch
Willow Bunch
Willow Bunch was a federal electoral district in Saskatchewan, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1925 to 1935.This riding was created in 1924 from parts of Maple Creek, Moose Jaw and Swift Current ridings...
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
in 1904.