Cuvillier, Augustin National Historic Person
Montréal, Quebec
Address :
129 St-Jacques Street, Montréal, Quebec
Recognition Statute:
Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date:
1969-01-01
Life Date:
1779 to 1849
Other Name(s):
-
Cuvillier, Augustin
(Designation Name)
Importance:
Speaker of the Assembly of Lower Canada (1841-44), founded Bank of Montréal
Plaque(s)
Existing plaque: 129 St-Jacques Street (inside the Bank of Montreal Museum), Montréal, Quebec
For forty years Cuvillier played a leading role in the public life of Lower Canada and in the Montreal business community. He sat in the Assembly from 1814-34 and 1841-44. In 1828 he shared in presenting the Lower Canadian grievances to the imperial Parliament in London, but later broke with Papineau over the 92 Resolutions. After the Union of the Canadas in 1841 he became first speaker of the new Assembly. A leading Montreal businessman, Cuvillier joined with eight of his English-speaking colleagues to found the Bank of Montreal, for which he secured the articles of incorporation in 1817.