Ludger Duvernay

Who was Ludger Duvernay?

Ludger Duvernay was born in Verchères, Quebec, Canada.

He was a printer by profession and published a number of newspapers including the Gazette des Trois-Rivières, the first newspaper in Lower Canada outside of Quebec City and Montreal, and also La Minerve, which supported the Parti patriote and Louis-Joseph Papineau in the years leading up to the Lower Canada Rebellion.

Duvernay was one of several journalists imprisoned early in 1832 for criticizing the non-elected legislative council that represented the interests of the Château Clique. Duvernay, editor of La Minerve and Daniel Tracey, another editor of the English language The Vindicator newspaper were arrested for libel and imprisoned together for 40 days for writing articles that said that “it is certain that before long all of America must be republican.” They were released after much public support and condemnation of the arrests. He was arrested by the authorities on four separate occasions.

On April 5, 1836, he fought in a duel with Clément-Charles Sabrevois de Bleury, which ended with him being shot in the right knee.

On June 9, 1843, Duvernay founded the Association Saint-Jean-Baptiste