Étienne-Paschal Taché
Province of Canada politician and premier / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sir Étienne-Paschal Taché (5 September 1795 – 30 July 1865) was a Canadian medical doctor, politician, and Father of Confederation. His family had a long history in New France, but suffered serious financial reverses due to the Seven Years' War and the siege of Quebec. He was considered a self-made man, who became a physician, a militia soldier, and a politician. He served twice as joint premier of the Province of Canada.
Sir Étienne-Paschal Taché | |
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![]() Sir Étienne-Paschal Taché, Father of Confederation, wearing the star and ribbon of the papal order of St. Gregory the Great | |
Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for L'Islet | |
In office 1841–1846 (two elections) | |
Preceded by | New position |
Succeeded by | Charles-François Fournier |
Personal details | |
Born | (1795-09-05)September 5, 1795 St Thomas, Lower Canada |
Died | July 30, 1865(1865-07-30) (aged 69) Montmagny, Canada East |
Political party | Lower Canada: Parti patriote (prior to 1837) Province of Canada: Groupe canadien-français (1841–1846) Parti bleu |
Spouse | Sophie Baucher dit Morency |
Relations | Jean Taché (grandfather) |
Children | 15 |
Residence | Montmagny |
Education | Petit Séminaire de Québec |
Profession | Physician |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | Lower Canada militia |
Rank | Colonel (militia; active and reserve) Colonel (British Army; honorary) |
Unit | 5th Battalion, Select Embodied Militia Canadian Chasseurs |
Battles/wars | War of 1812 |
Taché was a strong supporter of the Confederation of the British North American provinces, and the maintenance of the British connection. From June 1864, he was the formal head of the Great Coalition which pushed for Confederation, containing John A. Macdonald, George-Étienne Cartier and George Brown, but he died in office in 1865, two years before Confederation and the creation of Canada.