Ignace Bourget

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Archbishop Bourget in 1882

Ignace Bourget (30 October 1799 – 8 June 1885) was a French-Canadian Roman Catholic priest and bishop of the Diocese of Montreal, known for his sympathy for the rebels during the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837, for his re-introduction of the Jesuit order to Canada in 1842, and his support of Ultramontane principles. He ordered the construction of Saint-Jacques Cathedral (later Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral-Basilica).

In 1862, the Vatican gave Bourget the title of Roman Count. Bourget used his power and influence to interfere in the affairs of the Province of New Brunswick in an attempt to quash the passage of the Common Schools Act of 1871 that resulted in the separation of church and state in the New Brunswick education system. Bourget also supported the Programme catholique, an election manifesto attempting to influence the direction of the Conservative party, which is believed by some to have led to the defeat of George-Étienne Cartier in Montreal East in 1872.

Bishop Bourget was at the forefront of the Guibord Case over Church rights. After the 1874 ruling by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, Bourget went to the Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery and deconsecrated the burial plot where the Court had ordered that Guibord could be buried.

Bishop Bourget is buried in the Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral.