Adolphe-Basile Routhier

Who was Adolphe-Basile Routhier?

Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier was a Canadian judge, author, and lyricist. He wrote the lyrics of the original French version of the Canadian national anthem O Canada. He was born in Saint-Placide, Quebec, to Charles Routhier and Angélique Lafleur.

Routhier studied law at Université Laval. He graduated and was called to the Quebec bar in 1861. He was appointed to the Quebec Superior Court in 1873 and Admiralty of the Exchequer Court of Canada.

Routhier was involved in several federal elections as a Conservative candidate, but he was never elected. In June 1914, Routhier was one of the three judges appointed to conduct the Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the British steamship the Empress of Ireland, which had resulted in the loss of 1,012 lives.

Routhier married Clorinde Mondelet on November 12, 1862, in Quebec and had one son.