Viger Denis Benjamin 1774-1861 Born In Montreal Educated For The
legal profession. Practised in Montreal for some years; and in 1808
elected to the Legislative Assembly. Took an active part in the
discussion of the grievances of the French Canadians, and in 1828 and
1831 sent as a delegate to London to represent their views to the
Imperial authorities. In 1837, when the Rebellion broke out, arrested
and charged with sedition, but soon afterwards released. In 1843, on the
resignation
of the La Fontaine-Baldwin government, premier for a short
period. Appointed to the Legislative Council, 1848. =Index=: (Baldwin / La Fontaine / Hincks era) Member
for Richelieu, relations with Reform party in Upper Canada, 79; opposes
municipal government, 102; attacks government, 130; deserts La
Fontaine-Baldwin party, 215; in provisional government, 216, 235; his
pamphlet, 236; president of the Council, 247; defeated by Wolfred
Nelson, 252; Draper to throw him over, 259, 260, 261. (Sir Georges E. Cartier era) In Draper
government, 17; opposed in election by Cartier, 17; defeated in St.
Hyacinthe, 18. (Louis Joseph Papineau era) Delegate to England to present grievances of French
Canadians, 63; at meeting of Constitutional Committee, 1834, 88;
ridiculed by the Mercury, 123; at St. Charles meeting, 1837, 125. (Sir John A Macdonald era)
Represents Lower Canada in Metcalfe's government, 19. =Bib.=: Bibaud,
Pan. Can.; Dent, Last Forty Years; Christie, History of Lower
Canada.