George-Étienne Cartier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir George-Étienne Cartier
Bt, PC
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| Premier of Canada East | |
| In office August 6, 1858 – May 24, 1862 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor-General | Edmund Walker Head The Viscount Monck |
| Joint Premier | John A. Macdonald |
| Preceded by | Étienne-Paschal Taché |
| Succeeded by | Étienne-Paschal Taché |
| Minister of Militia and Defence | |
| In office July 1, 1867 – May 20, 1873 |
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| Prime Minister | John A. Macdonald |
| Preceded by | John A. Macdonald |
| Succeeded by | Hugh McDonald |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 6, 1814 Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu, Lower Canada |
| Died | May 20, 1873 (aged 58) London, England |
| Resting place | Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery, Montreal |
| Political party | Conservative Party of Canada, (pre-confederation) Parti Bleu Patriote |
| Spouse | Hortense Fabre |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Parti patriote Republic of Lower Canada |
| Branch/service | Société des Fils de la Liberté |
| Years of service | 1837–1838 |
| Battles/wars | Lower Canada Rebellion
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Sir George-Étienne Cartier (born September 6, 1814, died May 20, 1873) was very important Canadian statesman. He played a huge role in bringing the different parts of British North America together to form the country we now call Canada.
Cartier is often called "The Kingpin of Confederation" because he was so central to the whole idea of uniting the colonies. He worked closely with other important figures like Sir John A. Macdonald and George Brown to create the Canada we know today.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Cartier was born on September 6, 1814, in a place called Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu, which is now in Quebec. His first name, George, was given to him in honor of King George III, even though most people in his family spoke French!
From 1824 to 1832, he attended the Petit Séminaire de Montréal. After his schooling, he studied law and became a lawyer in 1834.
The Lower Canada Rebellion
When Cartier was a young man, there were many people in Lower Canada who felt that the government wasn't listening to them. They wanted more say in how their colony was run. Cartier was inspired by a leader named Louis-Joseph Papineau and joined a group called the "Society of the Sons of Liberty." He even took part in a big event called the Lower Canada Rebellion in 1837. This was a time of strong disagreements, and Cartier believed deeply in the cause. Because of his involvement, he had to leave the country for a short time and found safety in Vermont, a state in the United States. But he was allowed to return to Montreal in 1838 and continued his law practice. This experience showed how much he cared about his community and wanted things to be fair.
Stepping into Politics
After returning home, Cartier became very active in his community. He joined the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society, a group that celebrated French-Canadian culture. He also started helping other politicians, like Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, with their campaigns. In 1848, Cartier decided to run for office himself and was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada. This was the beginning of his long and impactful political career.
During his time in the government, Cartier was a champion for progress. In 1852, he helped create the Grand Trunk Railway Company of Canada, which was a huge step forward for transportation and connecting communities. He quickly became a very important leader and was appointed to the cabinet in 1854. From 1857 to 1862, he even served as a co-premier alongside John A. Macdonald, meaning they shared the top leadership role in the united province.
The Road to Confederation: Building a Nation
Cartier was a close friend and partner to John A. Macdonald. Together, they formed something called the "Great Coalition" in 1864, which also included George Brown. The main goal of this coalition was to bring stability to the government, as there had been many changes in leadership.
The Great Coalition was a crucial step towards creating Canada. Cartier attended all three important conferences where the idea of Confederation was discussed: Charlottetown, Quebec, and London. He was especially important because he helped convince many French-Canadians to support the idea of joining together to form a new country. He believed that a united Canada would protect their language, culture, and way of life, and also protect them from the growing power of the United States.
Cartier also made other big changes before Confederation. He helped get rid of an old land ownership system called the "seigneurial system" in Lower Canada, which wasn't fair anymore. He also worked to create the "Civil Code of Lower Canada," which was a new set of laws that helped people live together fairly, especially concerning property and families. He also strongly supported the idea of primary education, making sure more children could go to school.
A Leader in the New Dominion of Canada
When Canada officially became a country, a "Dominion," in 1867, John A. Macdonald became the first Prime Minister. George-Étienne Cartier was given the important job of Minister of Militia and Defence. This meant he was in charge of Canada's military and protecting the new country.
At that time, a politician could serve in both the federal (country-wide) and provincial (Quebec) governments at the same time. So, Cartier was elected to both the Parliament of Canada and the Legislative Assembly of Quebec. He represented Montreal East in the federal government.
In the next federal election in 1872, Cartier faced a challenge and was not re-elected in Montreal East. However, he was quickly acclaimed (meaning he won without anyone running against him) in a riding (an electoral district) in Manitoba called Provencher. This showed how much people across the new country respected him. Cartier was also a distant cousin of Louis Riel, a Métis leader, and he cared about ensuring fairness for all people in the Northwest.
During his time in Ottawa, Cartier was involved in many big decisions for the new country. He helped negotiate with Britain and the Hudson's Bay Company to buy a huge area of land called Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory, which greatly expanded Canada. He also played a key role in creating the province of Manitoba and bringing British Columbia into Confederation. Staying true to his interest in railways, Cartier introduced a bill in 1872 to create the Canadian Pacific Railway, a massive project that would connect Canada from coast to coast.
Illness and Death
In 1871, Cartier began to feel unwell, experiencing symptoms of a kidney disease called Bright's Disease. After the 1872 election, he traveled to London, England, hoping to find a cure. Sadly, his health did not improve, and he passed away in London on May 20, 1873, at the age of 58. His body was brought back to Canada, and he was buried in the Cimetière Notre-Dame-des-Neiges in Montreal after a public funeral.
Personal life
George-Étienne Cartier married Hortense Fabre in 1846, and they had three daughters. His family continued to honor his memory after his passing.
Legacy
Cartier's most important contribution to Canada was helping Canada East (Quebec) join Confederation. He helped create a country where different cultures and languages could live together. He also helped found the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste, a patriotic society, and even wrote a famous poem called "Ô Canada! mon pays, mes amours" (which is not the same as our national anthem, but still very special!).
Honours and Memorials
To recognize his incredible work, Queen Victoria made Cartier a "baronet" in 1868, which was a special honor. Many places and things in Canada are named after him:
- Highways and Airports: The Macdonald-Cartier Freeway (Highway 401) in Ontario, and the Macdonald-Cartier International Airport in Ottawa, are named after him and John A. Macdonald.
- Historic Site: His home in Montreal is now the Sir George-Étienne Cartier National Historic Site, where you can learn about his life.
- Postage Stamp and Bank Note: In 1931, Canada Post put his portrait on a ten-cent postage stamp. In 2017, his portrait was featured on a special ten-dollar bank note to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday!
- Schools and Streets: Many streets and six schools across Canada are named in his honor, including George-Étienne Cartier French Catholic primary schools in Ottawa and Toronto, and École secondaire Macdonald-Cartier high school in Sudbury.
- Mount Cartier: A mountain near Revelstoke, British Columbia, also bears his name.
George-Étienne Cartier was a true visionary who helped lay the foundation for Canada, ensuring that it would be a strong and united country for generations to come.
Images for kids
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The coat of arms of Sir George-Étienne Cartier. The motto means "Free and without fraud."
See also
In Spanish: George-Étienne Cartier para niños
