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George-Étienne Cartier
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George-Étienne Cartier




Sir George-Étienne Cartier, KCMG , PC ( September 6 , 1814May 20 , 1873 ) was a French-Canadian statesman and Father Of Confederation . The English spelling of the name, George, instead of Georges, the usual French spelling, is explained by his having been named in honour of King George III .

Cartier was born in Saint-Antoine , Quebec (then known as Lower Canada ). He studied law and in 1835 worked as a lawyer and also became involved in the Railway business. Cartier became active in politics in 1848 when he was first elected He fought with Louis-Joseph Papineau in the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837 and was forced into temporary exile in Vermont . He practised law when he returned and was elected to the Legislative Assembly Of The Province Of Canada in April 1848 . In 1852 he supported the creation of the Grand Trunk Railway , and from 1858 to 1862 he served as premier of the united province. He was a loyal and devoted friend of John A. Macdonald , for whom he secured power in lower Canada. In 1864 Cartier and Macdonald joined the Great Coalition with George Brown .

He attended all three conferences ( Quebec , Charlottetown , and London ) leading to Canadian Confederation , and was largely responsible for gaining French-Canadian support for union.

Cartier died in London . His body was brought back to Canada, and interred in the Cimetière Notre-Dame-des-Neiges in Montreal , Quebec.


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  Before Sir Étienne-Paschal Taché <br>
  Title Joint Premiers Of The Province Of Canada - Canada East
  Years 1857 - 1858


  Before Sir Antoine-Aimé Dorion <br>
  Title Joint Premiers Of The Province Of Canada - Canada East
  Years 1858 - 1862



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