Sir Charles Thomas Connolly Fitzpatrick
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The Honourable Charles Fitzpatrick, Member of Parliament and Solicitor General of Canada
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In 1973, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC) recognized Sir Charles Thomas Connolly Fitzpatrick (1851–1942) as a person of national historic significance for his role as a minister.
A jurist and statesman, Charles Fitzpatrick was born at Sainte-Foy to a lumber merchant of Irish descent. In 1876 he graduated in law from Université Laval (given HSMBC designation in 1972). He practised law in Québec City and then served as Crown prosecutor from 1879 to 1887. During his legal career he became known as defence attorney in some famous cases, including the trial of Louis Riel (1885) (given HSMBC designation in 1956).
In 1890 began his long political career as a member of the legislature, first in Québec City (1890–96) and then in Ottawa (1896–1906). On entering the House of Commons he joined the Cabinet as Solicitor General of Canada, and in that capacity he travelled to the Vatican to settle the issue of French-language confessional schools in Manitoba. In 1902 he moved to the portfolio of Minister of Justice and Attorney General in the Cabinet of Sir Wilfrid Laurier. He resigned in 1906 to become Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, holding that office until 1918. Thereafter he served as Administrator of Canada during absences of the Governor General.
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Charles Fitzpatrick addressing the jury at the trial of Louis Riel
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Appointed to the Privy Council in London in 1908, Fitzpatrick retired from the Bench in 1918 to become Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Quebec for a five-year term. At the same time he carried on a brilliant teaching career at Université Laval, where he held the Chair in Criminal Law from 1906 to 1936. His career won him many titles and honours.
