Abraham Turgeon (February 14, 1783 – August 2, 1851) was a notary and political figure in Canada East. He served as an officer in the Lower Canada militia in the War of 1812, was a justice of the peace, and held other civil positions. He represented Bellechasse in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada from 1842 to 1844, as a member of the French-Canadian Group.
Abraham Turgeon | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for Bellechasse | |
| In office 1842–1844 (by-election) | |
| Preceded by | Augustin-Guillaume Ruel |
| Succeeded by | Augustin-Norbert Morin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 14, 1783 Saint-Michel, Province of Quebec |
| Died | August 2, 1851 (aged 68) Saint-Michel, Canada East, Province of Canada |
| Political party | French-Canadian Group |
| Spouse | Monique Goulet |
| Relations | Louis Turgeon (cousin and brother-in-law) |
| Profession | Notary |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Britain |
| Branch/service | Lower Canada militia |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel (militia) |
| Unit | 3rd battalion, Bellechasse militia |
| Battles/wars | War of 1812 |
Turgeon was born in Saint-Michel, Bellechasse County, in the old Province of Quebec. He was the son of François Turgeon and Geneviève Bauché. His sister Geneviève married their cousin Louis Turgeon, a notary, who was elected three times to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada, and then was appointed to the Legislative Council. Abraham apprenticed as a notary with Louis Turgeon, qualified to practise in 1804 and set up his practice in Saint-Gervais. In 1819, he married Monique Goulet.[1]
He served in the militia during the War of 1812, as a captain and adjutant in the Saint-Vallier division. He later reached the rank of lieutenant-colonel, commanding the 3rd battalion of the Bellechasse militia. In 1814, Turgeon was named a justice of the peace. He was appointed commissioner for roads in Hertford County in 1817. In 1825, he was named the census commissioner for Hertford County.[1]
Turgeon was elected to the assembly in an 1842 by-election held after Augustin-Guillaume Ruel accepted an appointment as district registrar. Turgeon was a supporter of Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine and was part of the French-Canadian Group in the Assembly. He did not stand for re-election in 1844.[1][2][3]
Turgeon died in Saint-Michel at the age of 68. He was buried from the parish church.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Biography of Abraham Turgeon". Dictionnaire des parlementaires du Québec de 1792 à nos jours (in French). National Assembly of Quebec.
- ^ J.O. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections in the Province of Canada, 1841 to 1860 (Quebec: St. Michel and Darveau, 1860), p. 59, note (4).
- ^ Paul Cornell, Alignment of Political Groups in Canada, 1841–67 (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1962; reprinted in paperback 2015), pp. 9, 95–97.