27 Facts About Alexandre-Maurice Delisle

Alexandre-Maurice Delisle was a Montreal businessman and political figure.

Alexandre-Maurice Delisle resigned his seat in 1843 to return to provincial service, as clerk of the Crown.

The government was Liberal, Alexandre-Maurice Delisle was Bleu, and he lost his provincial positions in 1863.

At the time of his death in 1880, Delisle was rumoured to be in line for an appointment to the Senate of Canada by the Conservative government of Sir John A Macdonald, who was returned to office in 1878.

Alexandre-Maurice Delisle was born in Montreal, Lower Canada on April 20,1810, son of Jean Alexandre-Maurice Delisle and Mary Robinson.

Alexandre-Maurice Delisle's father was a clerk with Trinity House in Montreal, which regulated shipping on the St Lawrence River.

Alexandre-Maurice Delisle studied at the Petit Seminaire de Montreal from 1817 to 1822, then articled in law.

Alexandre-Maurice Delisle began to work in the provincial public service in Montreal.

Alexandre-Maurice Delisle was appointed clerk of the peace and clerk of the Crown in 1833.

At the request of the Governor General, Lord Sydenham, in 1841 Alexandre-Maurice Delisle stood as a candidate in the first general elections to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada.

Alexandre-Maurice Delisle campaigned in favour of the union of the Canadas.

The election turned violent and two of Alexandre-Maurice Delisle's supporters were killed, but he was declared elected.

Alexandre-Maurice Delisle was one of two French-Canadian members of the Assembly who voted in favour of the union, the other being Melchior-Alphonse de Salaberry.

Alexandre-Maurice Delisle resigned his seat in 1843 to return to the post of clerk of the Crown in Montreal.

Alexandre-Maurice Delisle was a strong supporter of the candidate of Governor General Metcalfe, who was defeated.

Alexandre-Maurice Delisle was an early and strong supporter of the Parti bleu, the conservative party which gradually emerged in Canada East.

Alexandre-Maurice Delisle gave large sums to election campaigns, and was a close friend and respected advisor of George-Etienne Cartier, who became the leader of the Bleus and a Father of Confederation.

Alexandre-Maurice Delisle was a successful land speculator, particularly in the Rimouski and Pointe-au-Pere areas.

Alexandre-Maurice Delisle was involved in banking, serving as a director and later the president for the Montreal City and District Savings Bank, and a director of the City Bank of Montreal.

Alexandre-Maurice Delisle served as director and later president for the Champlain and St Lawrence Railroad, until it combined with the Grand Trunk Railway.

Alexandre-Maurice Delisle was a director of the Gulf of St Lawrence Steamship Company, which involved business travel to the West Indies and South America.

In 1863, Alexandre-Maurice Delisle was accused of fraud by his own brother, Michel-Charles, relating to his term as clerk of the Crown.

Alexandre-Maurice Delisle called a large number of witnesses in his behalf, most of whom were high-ranking Bleus.

Alexandre-Maurice Delisle maintained that the whole thing was the result of the machinations of Joseph Doutre, a Montreal lawyer who was a strong supporter of the Liberals and Parti rouge.

Alexandre-Maurice Delisle held those offices until the Liberals returned to power in 1874, when he was again dismissed.

Alexandre-Maurice Delisle died a wealthy man, having profited greatly from his various business and entrepreneurial activities.

Alexandre-Maurice Delisle was buried in the Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery, close to the gravesite of his political ally, Cartier.