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Sir Hector-Louis Langevin, lawyer, journalist, politician (b at Québec C 25 Aug 1826; d there 11 June 1906). He was admitted to the bar on 9 October 1850 and turned to journalism in 1847, becoming editor of Mélanges religieux and a contributor to Journal d'Agriculture; editor of Le Courrier du Canada in 1857; political editor of Le Canadien 1872-75; and owner of Le Monde in 1884. He began his political career as mayor of Québec City in the Assembly, serving as solicitor general for Canada East 1864-66 and postmaster general 1866-67. He was also head of the ST-JEAN-BAPTISTE SOCIETY in Québec City 1861-63 and of the INSTITUT CANADIEN 1863-64. Langevin was a FATHER OF CONFEDERATION, defending Québec's interests at the CHARLOTTETOWN and QUÉBEC CONFERENCES in 1864 and at the LONDON CONFERENCE in 1866. After 1867 he represented Dorchester County in both Québec and Ottawa until dual representation was abolished in 1874. In Ottawa he was secretary of state and superintendent of Indian affairs in John A. MACDONALD's Cabinet 1867-69 and minister of public works 1869-73. He succeeded George-Étienne CARTIER as leader of the Québec wing of the Conservative Party 1873-91. He was implicated in the PACIFIC SCANDAL and did not stand in the next federal election. His return to active political life in 1876 was delayed by a contested election in Charlevoix, but in 1878, after a defeat in Rimouski County, he was elected for Trois-Rivières. Langevin had considerable influence in the Macdonald government following the 1878 election. He headed the post office 1878-79 and then public works 1879-91. Compromised by another scandal and linked to Thomas McGreevy's patronage, Langevin was forced out of the Cabinet after Macdonald died. He retired from politics in 1896.
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