Denis-Benjamin Papineau | |
|---|---|
| Joint Premier of the Province of Canada (Canada East) | |
| In office 1846–1847 | |
| Preceded by | Denis-Benjamin Viger |
| Succeeded by | Vacant from December 8, 1847 to March 10, 1848 |
| Commissioner of Crown Lands | |
| In office September 3, 1844–1847 | |
| Preceded by | Vacant since December 11, 1843 |
| Succeeded by | John A. Macdonald |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for Ottawa County | |
| In office 1842–1847 (1 by-election and 1 general election) | |
| Preceded by | Charles Dewey Day |
| Succeeded by | John Egan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 13, 1789 Montreal, Old Province of Quebec |
| Died | January 20, 1854 (aged 64) Sainte-Angélique, Canada East |
| Political party | French-Canadian Group (1842–1843) "British" Tory (1844–1847) |
| Spouse | Angélique Louise Cornud |
| Relations |
|
| Children | 9, including Denis-Emery Papineau |
| Education | Petit Séminaire de Québec |
| Occupation | Seigneurial agent, merchant, bookseller, justice of the peace |
| Signature |  |
Denis-Benjamin Papineau (November 13, 1789 – January 20, 1854) was joint premier of the Province of Canada for Canada East from 1846 to 1847. The joint premiers for Canada West during this period were William Henry Draper (1846 to 1847) and then Henry Sherwood (1847).
Papineau was part of the interconnected Papineau, Viger, and Cherrier families, who were politically active during the early to mid-19th century in Lower Canada (now Quebec). His father, Joseph Papineau, and his uncle, André Papineau, had both been members of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada. His older brother, Louis-Joseph Papineau, was a leader of the Patriote movement leading up to the Lower Canada Rebellion. A cousin, André-Benjamin Papineau, had also been a Patriote member of the Assembly. Another cousin, Denis-Benjamin Viger, was also involved in the Patriote movement, and later served as joint premier of the Province of Canada.
Unlike his brother and cousins, Papineau was not politically active during the lead-up to the Rebellion. It was not until 1842 that he entered politics, when he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada in a by-election, as the member for Ottawa County, Canada East. Two years later, in 1844, Viger invited Papineau to join his new government. Papineau became the Commissioner of Crown Lands with a seat in the Executive Council. When Viger withdrew from politics in 1846, Papineau succeeded him as joint premier from Canada East. Papineau in turn retired from politics late in 1847.
Prior to his political career, Papineau was involved in various commercial activities. He was the manager of the family seigneury of Petite-Nation, first for his father, then for his brother Louis-Joseph. He also had a share in a bookstore in Montreal, and some commercial activities in the Petit-Nation area. He was the postmaster for Petit-Nation, and had several term appointments as a justice of the peace in the Montreal district.
After withdrawing from politics, Papineau retired to Petite-Nation, where he died in 1854.