La Fontaine, Sir Louis-Hippolyte, Bart

(1807-1864)

   BL His name associated with responsible government, ix; espouses cause of Reformers in Lower Canada, 46; no sympathy with Rebellion, 47; his birth and parentage, 47; education--practises law in Montreal--his marriage, 47; in politics, 47-48; arrested for complicity in Rebellion, but released, 49; on the union, 57; opposes union of the provinces, 61; offered and refuses solicitor-generalship, 61; meets Hincks, 63; defeated in Terrebonne, 70; favours ministerial responsibility, 70-71; reconciled to the union, 71; his refusal to accept office leaves French-Canadians without representation in executive, 1841, 78, 79; elected for York,116-117; Bagot's letter to, offering attorney-generalship of Lower Canada, 123-124; declines appointment, 125; referred to in Draper's speech, 127; his speech in reply to Draper, 128; takes office, 132; attorney-general for Lower Canada, 133; re-elected in York, 134; attitude of Tories, 139; significance of his alliance with Baldwin, 142-143; personal appearance, 147-148; attacked by London Times, 150; relations with Metcalfe, 164-176; Kaye's description of, 169; Hincks' comments on Kaye, 170; interview with Higginson, 172-173; his published memorandum, 173-176; his work in the Assembly, 178-179; seconds resolution to remove capital to Montreal, 182; his act for securing independence of Legislative Assembly, 184; reorganization of judicial system of Lower Canada, 184-185; resigns office, 1843, 199; interview with Metcalfe, 201; draws up official statement of reasons for resignation of ministers, 201-205; Metcalfe's statement, 205-209; announces resignation in Assembly, 213; returns to practise law in Montreal, 217; Wakefield on, 219; his health proposed at Toronto banquet, 221; Viger's criticism of, 236; Draper on, 236; resigns as Queen's Counsel, 250; elected in Terrebonne, 251; his proposed resolution on use of French in the Legislature, 255; Draper's overtures to, 258-263; his contention for responsible government, 273; seconds Baldwin's amendment to address on responsible government, 277; his speech, 277; elected, 1848, for both Montreal and Terrebonne, 279; forms with Baldwin the second La Fontaine-Baldwin administration, 281, 284; interview with Elgin, 285-286; re-elected, 286; secures a pardon for Papineau, 288; attacked by Papineau, 289; his reply, 290-292; his bill amending judicial system of Lower Canada, and the general law of amnesty, 302-303; his bill for redistributing seats in the Legislature is defeated, 303; the Rebellion Losses Bill, 303, 305-334; his political views, 339, 340; relations with George Brown, 342; opposition of Papineau and the Radicals, 342, 343; not in favour of secularization of Clergy Reserves, 348; his views on Seigniorial Tenure, 350-351, 353; votes against Mackenzie's motion for abolishing the Court of Chancery, 352; his letter to Baldwin, 353; his retirement from public life, 354; banquet in his honour at Montreal, 1851, 354; his farewell speech, 354-357; his resignation, 357; appointed chief-justice, of Lower Canada, and created a baronet, 358; his second marriage, 358; his death at Montreal, Feb. 26, 1864, 358; value of his political work, 239-260. B Brought into Cabinet by Bagot, 16; dispute with Metcalfe, 19; his wise leadership, 24; introduces resolutions on Rebellion Losses questions, 35; disintegration of old Reform party hastened by his retirement, 262. E Denounces Union Act, 24; accepts the union and turns it to the advantage of his compatriots, 32; conflict with Metcalfe, 33-34; as opposition leader, 44-45; returned in 1848, 50; his plans thwarted by Papineau, 51, 108; forms administration with Baldwin, 52, 53; his resolution on Rebellion Losses Bill, 67-68; takes part in the debate, 69-70; mob attacks his house and burns his library, 74; second attack by mob, 76-77; his retirement, 1851, and dissolution of government, 85; his part in the establishment of the parliamentary system, 90; his attitude towards Clergy Reserves question, 102, 103, 162-164; his resignation, 104, 107; practises law, 105; becomes chief justice of Court of Appeals of Lower Canada, 105; receives baronetcy, 105; his rank as statesman and jurist, 105; his death, 105, 220; his conservative influence, 138; his views on Seigniorial Tenure question, 185, 187; as a constructive statesman, 236. C Sides against the government, 6; statesmanlike attitude towards Union of 1841, 16; forms alliance with Baldwin, 16, 97; forms ministry, 16; resigns, 17; called to power again in 1846, 18; standing as a statesman, 23; his party splits in two, 25-26; protests against Union Act of 1840, 96; his fight for ministerial responsibility, 97; long lease of power, 99; wins constitutional battle, 100; his retirement from politics, 132. P Refuses seat in Draper ministry, 72; joins Papineau's party, 78; supports him in his violent attitude towards government, 86; at meeting of Constitutional Committee, 88; his character, 109; ridiculed by the Mercury, 123; relations with Papineau in 1847 and after, 167-180; split in Liberal party causes retirement, 179-180; his farewell speech, 179. R Forms opposition party with Baldwin, Hincks, and others, 122. Mc Addresses revolutionary meetings, 328. Md Given seat in administration by Bagot, 18; resigns, 1843, 18; attacked by extreme Reformers, 22; forms administration with Baldwin, 30; elevated to the bench, 46-47.

   Bib.: Dent, Can. Por. and Last Forty Years; Morgan, Cel. Can.; Taylor, Brit. Am.; David, Biographie et Portraits; Hincks, Reminiscences.