Thomas Boutillier (October 9, 1797 – December 8, 1861) was a medical doctor, Patriote, and politician in Lower Canada. Elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada in 1834, he was a member of the Parti patriote led by Louis-Joseph Papineau, which was challenging the British colonial government of the largely French-speaking province of Lower Canada. When the Lower Canada Rebellion broke out in 1837, he fought on the Patriote side in the Battle of Saint-Charles. Following the Patriotes' defeat, he fled to the United States. He returned to Lower Canada in 1838.
The Battle of Saint-Charles, where Boutillier led a group of 100 men on the Patriote side
In 1832, Boutillier stood for election to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada in a by-election in the riding of Saint-Hyacinthe, but was defeated. Two years later, he was elected in the general elections. The political situation in Lower Canada was very tense. The Parti patriote, led Louis-Joseph Papineau, was becoming increasingly radical in reaction to the oligarchic government of the Governor-General, appointed by the British government. Boutillier joined the radical wing of the Parti patriote. In 1836, he was part of a delegation from Saint-Hyacinth which presented a petition to Governor General Lord Gosford and discussed the political situation. They advised Gosford that they favoured peace and order, but if their Patriote colleagues in Montreal were attacked, they would spring to their help.[1][2]
In 1837, the Lower Canada Rebellion broke out, with armed encounters. The provincial government was able to call on British troops and local militia, against self-armed Patriote units. The Battle of Saint-Charles occurred on November 25, 1837, at the town of Saint-Charles in the valley of the Richelieu River. Boutillier commanded a group of one hundred men at the battle, which the Patriotes lost. Boutillier fled to the United States, as did Papineau. While there, they took part in a meeting of several Patriotes at Middlebury, Vermont, on January 2, 1838, to discuss their future course. Some of the participants, particularly Robert Nelson, favoured issuing a declaration of independence modelled on the American example. Papineau objected, because the proposal included the abolition of the seigneurial system, customary law, and tithes. Papineau came under criticism for his refusal to endorse the proposal, which split the Patriote movement, but Boutillier later came to his defence. In June 1838, Boutillier stated that Papineau "has made mistakes, but he is not a traitor to his country."[1][2][3]
By the summer of 1838, Boutillier had returned to Saint-Hyacinthe and resumed his practice. The British authorities placed him under surveillance when the Rebellion broke out again in November 1838, but he was not arrested. He had softened his political views.[1][2]
Boutillier opposed the union, and in 1841 was elected by acclamation to represent Saint Hyacinthe in the new Legislative Assembly. He was one of the members of the French-Canadian Group, an informal group of members from Canada East. As part of that group, he voted against the union. In the first session of the Assembly, he was a consistent opponent of Governor General Lord Sydenham.[1][2][7][8]
Boutillier's political views had evolved. He was now a supporter of Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine, a former supporter of Papineau who now took a more moderate approach. LaFontaine was convinced that the union could be used to form an alliance of reformers from Lower Canada and Upper Canada to achieve responsible government, where the Executive Council was drawn from the group with a majority in the Assembly. LaFontaine had some initial success with this approach, working with Robert Baldwin, the leader of the Upper Canada Reformers. Boutillier was a steady supporter for LaFontaine in his efforts to achieve responsible government.[1][2][9]
Second Parliament, 1844–1848
Boutillier again stood for election in 1844. This time he had an opponent: Louis-Antoine Dessaulles, from a seigneurial family in the Saint-Hyacinth area, and a supporter of Papineau. In 1843, LaFontaine and Baldwin, and almost all the Executive Council, had resigned their positions in the Council over a dispute with the Governor General over government appointments. The dispute caused a rupture in the French-Canadian Group. Denis-Benjamin Viger, a veteran of the Parti patriote and colleague of Papineau, was appointed to the Executive Council. In the 1844 election, Boutillier continued to support LaFontaine, while Dessaules supported Viger. Boutillier won a close-fought election and was returned to the Assembly. An election petition challenging his election was dismissed. Throughout the second Parliament, the Reformers and French-Canadian Group were in opposition, with Boutillier a consistent supporter of LaFontaine.[1][2][10][11]
In 1845, Papineau returned from his exile. On a visit to some of his relatives in the Saint-Hyacinthe area, he met with Boutillier, who was anxious to repair relations between Papineau and LaFontaine. Boutillier even offered to resign his seat in the Assembly, to give Papineau the opportunity to return to electoral politics. Papineau declined the offer. Disappointed, Boutillier reported the discussion in a letter to LaFontaine: "I believe that M. Papineau does not wish to return immediately to public life."[1]
Third Parliament, 1848–1851
Boutillier stood for re-election in the 1847 general elections. He again had an opponent, Louis-Victor Sicotte. Boutillier was re-elected, with strong support from his hometown of Saint-Hyacinth. This time, the reformers of both Canada East and Canada West formed a clear majority in the Assembly. The new Governor General, the Earl of Elgin, called on LaFontaine and Baldwin to form the government, under the principle of responsible government.[1][2][12][13]
In 1849, the LaFontaine-Baldwin ministry introduced the highly controversial Rebellion Losses Bill to compensate residents of Lower Canada who had lost property during the Rebellion. Boutillier, along with most of the government supporters, voted for the bill. Elgin then granted royal assent, firmly establishing the principle of responsible government, even though opponents of the Bill rioted and burnt the Parliament buildings.[1][13]
Another political issue in 1849 was the question of annexation to the United States. The British government had ended tariffs which gave imperial preference to the colonies in British North America. The repeal had a significant impact on the economy of the Province of Canada. As well, Papineau was now strongly supporting annexation, as a republican option. Supporters of annexation issued the Montreal Annexation Manifesto. Dessaules, Boutillier's opponent in the 1844 election, supported annexation. Boutillier opposed the proposal and signed a counter-manifesto affirming loyalty to Great Britain.[1]
In 1849 and 1850, Boutillier worked in the Assembly to have a statute passed to incorporate Saint-Hyacinthe as a town. Here again, he and Dessaules clashed, this time over the issue of the boundaries and tax structure for the town. Dessaules lobbied for a more expansive tax base than Boutillier wished. Boutillier achieved his goal in the resulting statute, but in subsequent municipal elections, he was defeated and Dessaules was elected.[1]
Later life and death
Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire, Saint-Hyacinthe, where Boutillier's funeral was held
Boutillier did not stand for election in the general elections of 1851, ending his political career. Louis-Victor Sicotte, whom Boutillier had defeated in 1848, was elected in his place.[1][2][14]
In 1853, Boutillier was one of the founders of the local newspaper, the Courrier de Saint-Hyacinthe, which is still in operation in 2023, the longest-running French newspaper in North America.[2][15]
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