François Blanchet | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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François Blanchet

François Blanchet, doctor, politician (b at St-Pierre-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Qué 3 Apr 1776; d at Québec City 24 June 1830). Blanchet studied in New York and Québec.

Blanchet, François

François Blanchet, doctor, politician (b at St-Pierre-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Qué 3 Apr 1776; d at Québec City 24 June 1830). Blanchet studied in New York and Québec. He practised medicine in Québec and held a variety of posts: superintendent of hospitals for the Lower Canada militia, doctor at the Hôpital des Émigrés, health officer for the port of Québec, and member of the office of medical examiners. He was involved in various public health projects and medical education projects.

He helped set up the first medical society in Québec and the first medical journal in Canada. He also was active in politics and was a spokesman for the PARTI CANADIEN in the House of Assembly, where he represented Hertford 1809-16 and from 1818 to his death. He fought, among other causes, for the democratization of administrative structures in the colony and the development of education. With P.S. BÉDARD, he was among the Parti canadien supporters imprisoned by Governor CRAIG in 1810.