Jean-Baptiste Proulx

Who was Jean-Baptiste Proulx?

Jean-Baptiste Proulx was a farmer and political figure in Lower Canada.

He was born in Nicolet in 1793, the son of a farmer, and studied at the Séminaire de Nicolet. He returned to the family farm after completing his studies. Proulx served in the local militia during the War of 1812 and later became lieutenant in the militia. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada for Buckingham in 1820 and served until 1830, when the riding was divided and he was elected for Nicolet as a supporter of the parti patriote. Proulx represented Nicolet until the suspension of the constitution following the Lower Canada Rebellion. In 1827, he had been dismissed from his post in the militia because he had expressed disagreement with the policies of Governor George Ramsay and criticized the commander of the local militia, Lieutenant-Colonel Kenelm Conor Chandler. In 1830, he married Flore Lemire. Proulx supported the Ninety-Two Resolutions and attempted to organize armed revolt in his county, but with little success. He was arrested in 1838 but later released. He returned to raising cattle and was able to purchase a large part of the seigneury of Nicolet.