1. Bernard Devlin, was an Irish-born lawyer, counsel to the Abraham Lincoln administration of the United States Government during the most northerly engagement of the United States Civil War, Quebec-based political figure and Canadian parliamentarian, and peer and political competitor of Thomas D'Arcy McGee.
Dr Charles Bernard Devlin gave his life in 1847 at the age of 44 during the worst year of the Irish famine, serving the sick poor of a workhouse in Ballina, County Mayo.
Bernard Devlin had contracted "fever" from his patients.
At Quebec, unable to practice medicine because he was less than 21 years of age, Bernard Devlin established a weekly newspaper with a liberal bias called the Freeman's Journal and Commercial Advertiser.
Bernard Devlin directed this newspaper from 1844 to 1847, after which he left for Montreal, where he continued his activity as a journalist and began the study of law under Edward Carter, QC, Member of Parliament in the House of Commons for Brome, Quebec.
Bernard Devlin's offices were variously located along St James Street.
Bernard Devlin's preferred location for business socializing was the St Lawrence Hall Hotel at 13 Great St James Street, then considered the finest hotel establishment in the city.
Bernard Devlin rapidly established a large and lucrative practice in criminal law, and a wide reputation throughout the Dominion of Canada.
Bernard Devlin organized an Irish Company for the 1st, or Prince of Wales Rifle Regiment, serving initially as a captain, later as Lieutenant-Colonel, of the unit.
Bernard Devlin retired his command, retaining his rank, in August 1866.
Bernard Devlin was a Liberal in politics, a consistent one, following the varying fortunes of his party and the Irish community with equanimity and courage.
An Irish nationalist, though not a Fenian, and a highly visible and articulate champion of justice, Bernard Devlin had broad appeal among the Irish working classes of Montreal, and a reputation as the 'stormy petrel' of the Irish community.
Ultimately, Bernard Devlin went on to serve as President of the St Patrick's Society for over ten years, the longest term of office held by any president of that association, which is still active.
Bernard Devlin was elected in 1860,1865,1870 and finally in 1874.
Bernard Devlin was vocal in his praise for the new Dominion of Canada, wrapped up his speeches with three cheers for Queen Victoria, and had demonstrated his commitment to his new country by helping lead the defence of the Quebec border against Fenian invasion.
Bernard Devlin countered by condemning McGee as a "foul informer, a corrupt witness, a knave, and a hypocrite", and denounced him as a modern-day Titus Oates.
The Fenians, although not constituting the majority of Bernard Devlin's supporters, had nonetheless played a significant role during the election and fallen not far short of achieving their goal of defeating McGee.
Outside his profession, Bernard Devlin's interests were wide and varied, although the Irish community remained central to his concerns.
Years later, in the press of 20 September 1876, we find Bernard Devlin "arranging with the Government for the proper disposal of the remains of the unfortunate immigrants who died from ship fever in 1847 and were buried near the Wellington Bridge and vicinity".
From 1863 to 1870, Bernard Devlin sat as a member of the Montreal City Council and as alderman for St Lawrence Ward.
Bernard Devlin fought long and ardently and finally succeeded in having his scheme adopted, thus securing for Montreal one of the most beautiful public parks on the continent.
In 1848 Bernard Devlin married Anna Eliza Hickey, a native of Brooklyn, New York, daughter of John Hickey and Catherine Debin.
Profoundly saddened by the early loss of the majority of his children and the premature death of his wife Anna Eliza at age 41, and weakened by the onset of tuberculosis, in 1879 Bernard Devlin traveled to Colorado seeking a cure, dying there on 7 February 1880.
Bernard Devlin's funeral was witnessed by an enormous crowd with all classes turning out en masse, an event recorded for posterity by JC Walker, one of the better artists of the time.
The funeral cortege wound its way through the heart of the city from the St Lawrence Hall Hotel, along St James Street, through Victoria Square past the statue of Queen Victoria and up the mountain along Cote des Neiges to Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery, where Bernard Devlin was buried at the Bernard Devlin monument, ironically within clear sight of, and just down the same byway from, his former foe D'Arcy McGee's mausoleum.