John Samuel Bourque

Who was John Samuel Bourque?

John Samuel Bourque was a Quebec politician, Cabinet Minister, military member and businessman. He was the Member of Legislative Assembly of Quebec for the riding of Sherbrooke for 25 years.

Born in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Bourque studied at the Petit Séminaire de Saint-Charles-Borromée in Sherbrooke, before being enrolled in the 22nd Battalion, CEF, as a soldier and sergeant where he participated in World War I in the United Kingdom. He was also a colonel, sergeant, major and lieutenant-colonel for the Sherbrooke Fusilliers. He retired from the military service in 1943. While being in military duties, he was also a businessman running a lumber store.

Bourque was first elected in 1935 as a member of the Action libérale nationale which shortly after was merged with the Quebec Conservative Party to form the Union Nationale. He was re-elected for six additional terms until the 1960 elections in which he lost to the Quebec Liberal Party candidate. He served for several ministries in the Maurice Duplessis Cabinet.