CARTIER, SIR GEORGES ETIENNE, BART. (1814 1873), Canadian statesman, was born in the province of Quebec on Sept. 6, 1814. Called to the bar in 1835 he gained a large practice. He took part in the rebellion of 1837, and spent some time in exile. In 1848 he was elected to the Canadian parliament. In 1855 he was appointed provincial secretary and in 1857 attor ney-general for Lower Canada. From 1858-62 he and Sir John Macdonald were joint prime ministers of Canada, and their alli ance lasted till the death of Cartier. He promoted many useful measures, such as the abolition of seigneurial tenure in Lower Canada and the codification of the civil law of that province (1857-64). To his energy and fearless optimism are largely due the eventual success of the Grand Trunk railway and the resolve to construct the Canadian Pacific. In the face of great opposition he carried his native province into federation (1864-67), which would have been impossible without his aid. In the first cabinet of Sir John Macdonald he sat as minister of militia and defence, and carried in 1868 an important act establishing the land forces of Canada on a sound basis. Though a devout Catholic, he became involved in a political quarrel with his Church, and was defeated by clerical influence at the general election of 1872. Another seat was found for him, but his health failed and he died on May 2o, 1873.
The Life, by Alfred O. De Celles (Toronto, 1904), may be supple mented by the sketch in Dent's Canadian Portrait Gallery (Toronto, 188o).