Arthur Beauchesne

Who was Arthur Beauchesne?

Arthur Beauchesne, CMG KC FRSC was a Canadian civil servant who was Clerk of the House of Commons from 1925 to 1949. He is the author of the procedural manual, Rules and Forms of the House of Commons of Canada, which is used by Canadian Members of Parliament during parliamentary debates.

Born in Carleton, Bonaventure County, Quebec, Beauchesne received a Bachelor's degree from St. Joseph’s College in Memramcook, New Brunswick. He then studied literature and law in Montreal receiving a degree in literature in 1897. He was called to the Quebec Bar in 1904.

In 1912, he joined the federal civil service working in the Department of Justice and in 1916 he was appointed Deputy Clerk of the House of Commons. In 1925, he was appointed Clerk of the House of Commons. He retired in 1949.

In 1908, he was the Conservative candidate in the riding of Bonaventure for the Canadian House of Commons in the 1908 federal election. He lost to Charles Marcil. He ran again in the 1953 federal election for the riding of Ottawa East losing to Jean-Thomas Richard.

He was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1933. In 2003, he was designated a Persons of National Historic Significance.