John Lemesurier

John Lemesurier (1826–1891)^[1] was a Canadian politician, serving as Mayor of Quebec City from January 1868 to November 1869.^[2]

John Le Mesurier (or Lemesurier/LeMesurier) left his native Gaspe to make his mark in Quebec City. One biographer has depicted him as a poor young man from "the lowest rung of the ladder," although Quebec Bishop Charles Inglis, who visited "Gaspe East" in 1789, wrote of the Le Mesurier family in this context: "There are several brothers of this name, who deal in this business. They generally catch from 10,000 to 12,000 quintals (one quintal being 100 kilograms) of fish every year, and sometimes bring over 100 fishermen from Guernsey for the season." The biographer does acknowledge John did as a youth work "in the fishery business in his father's establishment."

John LeMesurier was the son of Charles LeMesurier, who was born on Jersey, and who served in the Royal Navy under the British Vice Admiral, Lord Horatio Nelson, for nine years and was present at the famed engagement at Trafalgar, where Lord Nelson lost his life at age 47.

John LeMesurier was born in 1826, received his education on the Gaspe and November 1847 sailed on board the schooner Antelope for Quebec. It was wrecked coming up the St. Lawrence. He returned to the Gaspe and embarked on the Merry; he was then wrecked a second time. It is reported that, enduring great hardship and privation, Le Mesurier and crew members walked over the snow and ice to Sault au Cauchon. He stayed there with two crew members and worked for the Price family. The remaining crew members headed for Quebec City.

The following spring, LeMesurier crossed to the south shore and made his way on foot to Quebec, then returned to the fishery business in the Gaspe. Young Le Mesurier set out a third time for Quebec City. The schooner took 21 days, but this time he made it to his destination. His first job was with a Mr. Withall who became vice president of the Quebec Bank.

In the second year a trifling increase was made to his small salary. Finally, Withall sold his business to Le Mesurier, who made a success of it. Next he started an oakum manufactory, probably to help a brother, but it did not prosper. In 1859, he was elected to the city council, and in 1867 was elected mayor, defeating the sitting mayor, Joseph Cauchon, who later became governor of Manitoba. Following John's first term, the people of Quebec re-elected him by acclamation.

During the first year of his mayoralty, John Le Mesurier, delivered the welcome address to H. R. H. Prince Arthur and dined with him at a dinner given by Sir Narcisse Belleau at the Stadacona Club. While Le Mesurier retained office as chief magistrate, a labor riot broke out. He was ordered to read the Riot Act, but this he refused to do. Instead, he courageously went amidst the rioters and, by diplomatic persuasion, induced them to disperse. Because armed troops had been ordered up, Le Mesurier's cool headed daring probably saved bloodshed.

Mr LeMesurier was actively engaged in Liberal party politics, and in October 1877 was asked to introduce Wilfrid Laurier to a meeting that took place in his store. In his introduction, he is reported to have “made a very able speech against the corrupt government to which Mr. Laurier was opposing his energy and talents,” and “spoke in felicitous terms of the great reforms made by the reform parties all over the world, and said that if the just measures of reformers had been carried out, we would not have discontent or disaffection anywhere.”

John LeMesurier married Marie Sylvain of Quebec, a French Canadian Catholic who was 12 years his senior, and they had five children. In 1870, he opened a brewery and tannery, but not satisfied with the results, he gave them up and, in 1873, went into tobacco manufacturing, taking his sons William and Henry as partners. This enterprise became one of the largest of its type in the province.

In addition, John became owner of fairly extensive real estate holdings. A biographer, writing in a flowery 19th century style, gives John Le Mesurier very high marks for his accomplishments in Quebec City, saying "Possibly, in Quebec City, there is no man stands higher 'rated' amongst the banking community, with whom he has always done business, than John Le Mesurier.”

John LeMesurier died in 1891, and is buried in Mount Hermon cemetery in the Sillery neighbourhood of Quebec City.

References

External links

• McCord Museum: John Lemesurier, Montreal, QC, 1865