Odilon Desmarais

Odilon Desmarais, KC (February 27, 1854 – May 18, 1904) was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Quebec. He represented Saint-Hyacinthe in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1890 to 1892 and St. James in the House of Commons of Canada from 1896 to 1901 as a Liberal.[1]

Odilon Desmarais
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for St. James
In office
1896–1901
Preceded byDistrict was created in 1892
Succeeded byJoseph Brunet
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec for Saint-Hyacinthe
In office
1890–1892
Preceded byHonoré Mercier
Succeeded byAntoine-Paul Cartier
Personal details
Born(1854-02-27)February 27, 1854
Joliette, Canada East
DiedMay 18, 1904(1904-05-18) (aged 50)
Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada
Political partyLiberal

He was born in Joliette, Canada East, the son of Jean-Baptiste Desmarais and Émérentienne Beauchamps, and was educated at the Collège de Joliette and McGill University. Desmarais articled in law with Alexandre Lacoste, was called to the Quebec bar in 1876 and practised in Saint-Hyacinthe with Honoré Mercier and in Montreal. Desmarais was also crown prosecutor for Montreal district. In 1877, he married Marie-Louise-Herminie Gélinas.

Desmarais contributed to the newspapers L'Industrie de Trois-Rivières and Le National of Montreal. He was also editor and president of the L'Union printing company.

Desmarais served on the municipal council for Saint-Hyacinthe from 1888 to 1890, when he was elected to the Quebec assembly. He was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1892, losing to Antoine-Paul Cartier. He was elected to the House of Commons in the federal elections held in 1896 and 1900. In 1899, he was named Queen's Counsel. Desmarais resigned his seat in the House of Commons after he was named judge for Trois-Rivières district in 1901.

He died in Trois-Rivières at the age of 50, after suffering a heart attack.[2]

References
  • "Biography". Dictionnaire des parlementaires du Québec de 1792 à nos jours (in French). National Assembly of Quebec.
  1. Odilon Desmarais – Parliament of Canada biography
  2. Roy, PG Les juges de la province de Québec (1933) p. 165 (in French)
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