36 Facts About Austin Cuvillier

Austin Cuvillier was a businessman and political figure in Lower Canada and Canada East.

Austin Cuvillier was a successful Canadien businessmen, unusual when most businessmen in Lower Canada were British.

Austin Cuvillier was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada for twenty years, as a member for the Parti canadien, which tended to oppose the policies of the British-appointed governors.

Austin Cuvillier's father was a shop-owner on Rue Sous-le-Fort, beneath Cap Diamant, a street with other small shopkeepers and navigators.

Austin Cuvillier's father died in 1789, when Austin Cuvillier was around ten years old, casting responsibility on him at a young age.

Austin Cuvillier enrolled there in 1794, but does not appear to have completed his studies.

Two of his sons, Maurice and Austin Cuvillier, had significant business interests in banking, transportation and real estate development, as well as trade with Upper Canada.

Joseph Perrault, Marie-Claire's brother and Austin Cuvillier's brother-in-law, went on to become a member of the Legislative Assembly, elected in 1820.

Austin Cuvillier was hired by Henry Richard Symes, a wealthy Montreal auctioneer, and eventually took over the business when Symes retired in 1802.

Austin Cuvillier formed a partnership with two other men, Thomas Aylwin and John Harkness, doing business in both Montreal and Quebec City.

In spite of the reverse, Austin Cuvillier was acquiring a great deal of knowledge about local and foreign markets, as the auctioneering business involved importing large quantities of dry goods and then selling them in lots to local firms.

Austin Cuvillier developed a network of contacts and an understanding of finance and banking, and began to develop a reputation amongst colonial merchants.

Austin Cuvillier played an important role in the founding of the Bank of Montreal and was one of its first directors.

Austin Cuvillier helped found the Montreal Fire Insurance Company and became president in 1820, although the firm agreed to a costly takeover by the Quebec Fire Insurance Company in late 1820, after Cuillivier had resigned as president and director.

Austin Cuvillier acted as a financial agent and stockbroker, selling shares of Canadian banks.

Austin Cuvillier initially was a lieutenant with the 5th Select Embodied Militia Battalion of Lower Canada.

Austin Cuvillier was one of the few Canadien businessmen who was interested in politics.

In 1809, Austin Cuvillier stood for election for Huntingdon county, south of Montreal, but was defeated.

Austin Cuvillier was re-elected in the general elections of 1816,1820,1824, and 1827.

Austin Cuvillier provided the detailed financial critiques; the leaders of the party, Louis-Joseph Papineau and John Neilson, made the arguments based on British political principles.

Austin Cuvillier worked in the Assembly for many years to get a legislative charter passed for the Bank of Montreal, to replace the private contract which its shareholders operated under.

Austin Cuvillier was one of four commissioners appointed by the Assembly to carry out difficult negotiations with representatives from Upper Canada on how to share the customs revenues between the two provinces.

Austin Cuvillier reported back that there was general sympathy for the principles of self-government which they had advanced in the British Parliament.

On one issue Austin Cuvillier was the more radical, calling for indemnities to be paid to elected members of the Legislative Assembly, which would open it up beyond the wealthy landholders, professionals and businessmen.

The conflict between Papineau and Austin Cuvillier came to a head over the Ninety-Two Resolutions.

Austin Cuvillier was one of only six French-speaking members who opposed the Resolutions and argued in favour of the existing constitutional system.

Austin Cuvillier rejected the call to arms, and was firmly on the side of the government.

Austin Cuvillier was one of two justices who issued a warrant to arrest Wolfred Nelson, one of the leaders of the Rebellion and a former colleague in the Legislative Assembly, on a charge of high treason.

Austin Cuvillier called for the reunion of the two Canadas into a single province, with the expressed hope that the British populations in Upper Canada and Lower Canada would gradually assimilate the French population in Lower Canada.

Austin Cuvillier recommended that the British government accept that the principle of responsible government should be applied in the new Province, namely that the Governor should call on the group which had a majority in Parliament to form the executive Cabinet, just as in the United Kingdom itself.

Austin Cuvillier continued to oppose the union of the two Canadas and stood for election on general opposition to the anticipated policies of Governor-General Lord Sydenham.

Austin Cuvillier was elected to the 1st Parliament of the Province of Canada representing newly constituted district of Huntingdon.

Francis Hincks, a Reform member from Upper Canada and one of Papineau's allies, was able to persuade Papineau that Austin Cuvillier was a good choice for Speaker.

At the age of 61, Austin Cuvillier accepted that his political career was over.

Austin Cuvillier was buried at Notre-Dame the day after his death.

In 1969, Austin Cuvillier was designated as a National Historic Person by the federal government, recognising his forty years of public service and his substantial contributions to the business community of Montreal.