Alexandre-René Chaussegros de Léry

Who was Alexandre-René Chaussegros de Léry?

Alexandre-René Chaussegros de Léry was a Quebec seigneur, lawyer and political figure. He was a Conservative member of the Senate of Canada for Lauzon division from 1871 to 1876 and also represented the same division in the Legislative Council of Quebec from 1867 to 1880.

He was born at Quebec City in 1818, the son of seigneur Charles-Étienne Chaussegros de Léry, and studied at the Petit Séminaire of Quebec. He articled in law with Louis de Gonzague Baillairgé and was admitted to the bar in 1842. In 1844, he married Catherine Charlotte-Éliza, the daughter of seigneur Antoine-Gaspard Couillard. He inherited the seigneuries of Rigaud-Vaudreuil and Sainte-Barbe-de-la-Famine and also owned property at Quebec City and Saint-François-de-la-Beauce. After gold was discovered on his property, he set up the De Léry Gold Mining Company. He also took part in the founding of the Compagnie de Chemin à Lisses de Lévis à Kennebec and served as president.

He was named to the legislative council in 1867 and to the Senate in 1871, but resigned his seat in the Senate in 1876. He continued to be a member of the legislative council until his death in 1880 at Quebec. He was buried at Saint-François-de-la-Beauce.