Charles Fitzpatrick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Charles Fitzpatrick
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| 5th Chief Justice of Canada | |
| In office June 4, 1906 – October 21, 1918 |
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| Nominated by | Wilfrid Laurier |
| Preceded by | Henri Elzéar Taschereau |
| Succeeded by | Louis Henry Davies |
| 12th Lieutenant Governor of Quebec | |
| In office October 23, 1918 – October 31, 1923 |
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| Monarch | George V |
| Governor General | The Duke of Devonshire The Lord Byng of Vimy |
| Premier | Lomer Gouin Louis-Alexandre Taschereau |
| Preceded by | Pierre-Évariste Leblanc |
| Succeeded by | Louis-Philippe Brodeur |
| MP for Quebec County | |
| In office August 19, 1896 – June 3, 1906 |
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| Preceded by | Jules Joseph Taschereau Frémont |
| Succeeded by | Lorenzo Robitaille |
| Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada | |
| In office February 11, 1902 – June 3, 1906 |
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| Preceded by | David Mills |
| Succeeded by | Allen Bristol Aylesworth |
| Solicitor General of Canada | |
| In office July 13, 1896 – February 9, 1902 |
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| Preceded by | Charles Hibbert Tupper |
| Succeeded by | Henry George Carroll |
| MLA for Québec-Comté | |
| In office June 17, 1890 – June 11, 1896 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas Chase-Casgrain |
| Succeeded by | Némèse Garneau |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 19, 1851 Quebec City, Canada East |
| Died | June 17, 1942 (aged 90) Quebec City, Quebec |
| Resting place | Cimetière Saint-Michel de Sillery |
| Political party | Quebec Liberal Party (1890–1896) Liberal Party of Canada (1896–1906) |
Sir Charles Fitzpatrick (born December 19, 1851 – died June 17, 1942) was an important Canadian lawyer and politician. He held several major roles in Canada. These included serving as the Minister of Justice of Canada, the Chief Justice of Canada, and later as the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec.
Contents
Life and Career
Early Life and Education
Charles Fitzpatrick was born in Quebec City, which was then part of Canada East. His parents were John Fitzpatrick and Mary Connolly. He went to Laval University. There, he earned a degree in Arts in 1873 and a Law degree in 1876. He even received a special award called the Dufferin Silver Medal for his studies.
After finishing university, he became a lawyer in Quebec in 1876. He started his own law office in Quebec City. Later, he co-founded a law firm called Fitzpatrick & Taschereau.
In 1885, he was the main lawyer for Louis Riel in a very important trial.
Entering Politics
Charles Fitzpatrick began his political career in 1890. He was elected to the Quebec Legislative Assembly for the area of Québec-Comté. He was re-elected in 1892. However, he left this role in 1896 to join federal politics.
He was then elected to the House of Commons of Canada in 1896. He represented the Quebec County area as a Liberal MP.
Key Government Roles
From 1896 to 1902, he served as the Solicitor General of Canada. This role involves giving legal advice to the government. Then, from 1902 to 1906, he became the Minister of Justice. This is a very important job, overseeing Canada's legal system.
In 1905, he played a key part in creating two new provinces: Alberta and Saskatchewan. He represented the federal government in the talks that made this happen.
Chief Justice and Lieutenant Governor
In 1906, Charles Fitzpatrick was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. He became the Chief Justice, which is the highest judge in the country. He held this position until 1918.
He was the only Chief Justice, besides Sir William Buell Richards, to get the job without first being a regular judge on the Supreme Court. He was also the only Chief Justice appointed without any previous experience as a judge.
After his time as Chief Justice, he was appointed the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec in 1918. He was the 12th person to hold this role since Canada was formed. His wife's nephew, Louis-Alexandre Taschereau, later became the Premier of Quebec while Fitzpatrick was Lieutenant Governor.
Family Life
On May 20, 1879, Charles Fitzpatrick married Marie-Elmire-Corinne Caron. Her father, René-Édouard Caron, had also been a Lieutenant Governor of Quebec.
Charles Fitzpatrick was given the title of Knight in 1907, which means he was "knighted." He passed away on June 17, 1942, at the age of 90. He is buried in the Saint-Michel Cemetery in Sillery.
Images for kids
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Charles Fitzpatrick as a Member of Parliament
