François Baby (legislative councillor)

Charles François Xavier Baby, (19 June 1794 – 6 August 1864), was the eldest son of François Baby and received his formal education at Séminaire de Québec before entering into business.

Charles had a varied career in business and had himself in financial difficulties on at least three occasions, one of which ended in bankruptcy. He had purchased and lost various land holding and also involved himself in the timber trade.

By 1851, he appears to have had the worse of his financial difficulties behind him. He was involved in building and maintaining lighthouses for the government. He then became involved in the north shore railway and specifically the towing service and tugs. His various contracts were bought out in 1860 for an amount equal to three major debts.

He entered politics in 1861, becoming a member of the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada, and continued this occupation until his death. The years of government contracts and behind the scenes deals had made him a man of great influence in Quebec.

In August 1831, he married Clothilde Pinsoneault, sister of Pierre-Adolphe Pinsoneault, the first Catholic bishop of London, Ontario.

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