Wilfrid Laurier

Laurier in 1906, by William James Topley; “The Honourable Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Photo C.,” British Library, HS85/10/16873

Birth Name: Henri Charles Wilfrid Laurier

Date of Birth: November 20, 1841

Place of Birth: Saint-Lin, Canada East, United Province of Canada (now Québec, Canada)

Date of Death: February 17, 1919

Place of Death: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Ethnicity: French-Canadian

Wilfrid Laurier was a Canadian politician and statesman. A member of the Liberal Party, he was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada, having served from July 11, 1896 to October 6, 1911. He was also Minister of Inland Revenue, from October 8, 1877 to October 8, 1878, and Leader of the Liberal Party, from June 2, 1887 to February 17, 1919. He was a Member of Parliament for Drummond—Arthabaska, from January 22, 1874 to October 27, 1877, and for Québec East (both QC), from November 11, 1877 to February 17, 1919.

Prime Minister Laurier was the son of Marie-Marcelle (Martineau) and Carolus de Laurier. Prime Minister Laurier was Canada’s first French-Canadian Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Laurier was married to Zoé (Lafontaine) Laurier.

Prime Minister Laurier’s paternal grandfather was Charles Laurier (the son of Jean-Charles Cotineau Dit Laurier and Marie Marguerite Parent). Prime Minister Laurier’s grandfather Charles was born in Lachenaie, Québec. Prime Minister Laurier’s great-grandfather Jean-Charles was the son of Jacques Cotineau Laurier and Agathe Rochom. Marie Marguerite was the daughter of Joseph Parent and Marie Francoise Filion.

Prime Minister Laurier’s paternal grandmother was Marie Thérèse Françoise Cusson (the daughter of Jean Cusson and Marie Françoise Thérèse Beaudry).

Prime Minister Laurier’s maternal grandfather was Henri Marie Martineau (the son of Étienne Martineau and Marie Joseph Demers). Henri was born in Montréal. Étienne was the son of Joseph Martineau and Marie-Anne Boucher. Prime Minister Laurier’s great-grandmother Marie Joseph was the daughter of Denis Demers and Marie-Josephte Gingras.

Prime Minister Laurier’s maternal grandmother was Colette-Scholastique Desmarais (the daughter of Louis Desmarais and Catherine Forêt). Colette was born in L’Assomption.

Sources: Genealogy of Wilfrid Laurier – http://www.geni.com