Honoré Mercier

The Honourable Honoré Mercier (October 15, 1840, Saint-Athanase, Quebec - October 30, 1894), was Premier of Quebec from January 27, 1887, to December 21, 1891. He studied at the Jesuit College Sainte-Marie in Montreal and was admitted to the bar of the province in April 1865.

As the age of 22 he became the editor of Le Courrier de St-Hyacinthe. He opposed the Confederation project as early as 1864, believing that it would be detrimental to French Canadians.

In 1871 he founded the Parti National and was elected to the House of Commons in 1872. He became the leader of the Liberal Party of Quebec in 1883 and was strongly opposed to the execution of Louis Riel in 1885; this event helped him become Premier of Quebec in 1887.

He initiated the interprovincial conference in 1887 and became the first Quebec premier to defend the principle of provincial autonomy within the confederation.

On December 16, 1891, he was dismissed by Lieutenant Governor Auguste-Réal Angers after a report concluded that his government had diverted public funds. He was brought to trial later and found not guilty when a second report concluded differently on the matter.

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