Étienne Mayrand

Who was Étienne Mayrand?

Étienne Mayrand was a Quebec businessman and political figure.

He was born in Montreal in 1776 and went on to work in the fur trade with the North West Company. He established a business in grain and hay at Rivière-du-Loup, also expanding into real estate and money lending. Mayrand served in the militia as an officer during the War of 1812, becoming captain and, in 1846, major. He also held several posts as commissioner in Lower Canada. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada for Saint-Maurice County in 1816. Mayrand served as a member of the Special Council which governed the province following the Lower Canada Rebellion and was named to the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada in June 1841. He resigned from the council later that same month.

He was married four times:

first to a native woman, who bore him two daughters, during his time with the North West Company

then, to Sophie Héneau from Berthier

thirdly, to Thérèse Heney at Montreal

finally, to Félicité Le Maitre-Bellenoix, the widow of Louis Gauvreau, a Quebec merchant

He died in Rivière-du-Loup in 1872.

His grandson, Hormidas Mayrand, later served in the Canadian House of Commons.