Charles Francois Baillargeon

Charles François Baillargeon

A French-Canadian bishop, b. 26 April, 1798, at Ile-aux-Grues, P. Q.; d. 13 October, 1870. He studied theology at the Seminary of Quebec, where he taught rhetoric. Ordained in 1822, he was successively chaplain at St. Roch, pastor of St. François, Isle of Orleans, of the joint parishes of L'Ange-Gardien and Chateau-Richer. While rector of Notre Dame de Quebec, he displayed apostolic zeal and charity during three visitations of cholera (1832, 1834, 1849), and the horrors of typhus (1847), assisting many Irish orphans. He was made Bishop of Tloa and coadjutor to Archbishop Turgeon of Quebec, 23 February, 1851; being the first Canadian bishop since the conquest appointed without the intervention of the British Crown. He became administrator in 1855 and succeeded as Archbishop of Quebec, 26 August, 1867. He attended the Vatican Council. He published a French translation, with commentary, of the New Testament (2d ed., 1865), lauded by Pius IX, "Recueil d'Ordonnances" (1859), and over thirty important Pastoral Letters, besides many other official documents.

PAQUET, Mgr. Baillargeon (Quebec, 1870); LEGARÉ, Eloge de Mgr. C.-F. Baillargeon (ibid., 1871); TETU, Les Evêques de Quebec (ibid., 1889).

LIONEL LINDSAY