Alphonse Desjardins (politician)

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Alphonse Desjardins, PC (French pronunciation: [alfɔ̃s deʒaʁdɛ̃]; 6 May 1841 – 4 June 1912) was a Canadian lawyer, journalist, businessman, and politician. Born in Terrebonne, Canada East, he was mayor of Montreal from 1893 to 1894 and later a Canadian Cabinet minister. He married Virginie Paré in 1864 and remarried Hortense Barsalou in 1880.

He owned a tile factory and participated in the founding of the Banque Jacques-Cartier, which later became part of the National Bank of Canada. He represented the riding of Hochelaga in the House of Commons for 18 years, serving as a cabinet minister and Minister of Militia and Defence for a few months at the end of the Mackenzie Bowell government and then the short-lived Charles Tupper government in 1896. He was named a senator in 1892. He became mayor of Montreal from 1893 to 1894. For a time he held three posts (member of the House of Commons, senator, mayor) simultaneously.

In 1872, he was created a Knight of the Order of Pius IX in acknowledgment of his services to the Catholic Church.

Electoral record

v; t; e1891 Canadian federal election: Hochelaga
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
ConservativeAlphonse Desjardins5,26658.05+6.20
LiberalJoseph Lanctot3,80541.95-6.20
Total valid votes9,071100.00
v; t; e1887 Canadian federal election: Hochelaga
PartyCandidateVotes%
Independent ConservativeAlphonse Desjardins3,05051.85
LiberalJoseph Lanctot2,83248.15
Total valid votes5,882100.00
v; t; e1882 Canadian federal election: Hochelaga
PartyCandidateVotes
ConservativeAlphonse Desjardinsacclaimed
v; t; e1878 Canadian federal election: Hochelaga
PartyCandidateVotes%
ConservativeAlphonse Desjardins3,03956.48
UnknownLaurent-Olivier David2,34243.52
Total valid votes5,381100.00
v; t; e1874 Canadian federal election: Hochelaga
PartyCandidateVotes
ConservativeAlphonse Desjardinsacclaimed
Source: lop.parl.ca