Louis-Victor Sicotte

Who was Louis-Victor Sicotte?

Louis-Victor Sicotte was a lawyer, judge and politician in Lower Canada.

He was born Louis Cicot in Boucherville, Lower Canada in 1812. He studied law and was called to the bar in 1839. He helped found the Aide-toi, le Ciel t’aidera society, which is credited with introducing the celebration of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day for French Canadians, and was also its secretary-treasurer. He supported the Patriotes but apparently took no part in the Rebellions of 1837-38. He believed, correctly as it turned out, that rebellion would only lead to an imposed union with Upper Canada.

In 1838, he set up a practice in Saint-Hyacinthe. In 1851, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly representing Saint-Hyacinthe. He became part of the Hincks-Morin government for a short time in August 1853. He was re-elected in 1854 and elected speaker. In the same year, he was named Queen's Counsel. In November 1857, he was chosen as Commissioner of Crown Lands, serving until 1 August 1858. He was re-elected in 1858 and became Commissioner of Public Works in the Cartier-Macdonald government from 1858 to 10 January 1859. He was Joint Premier of the Province of Canada with John Sandfield Macdonald from May 24, 1862 to May 15, 1863. He refused a cabinet post in the Macdonald-Dorion government that followed and, after his reelection in 1863, introduced a motion of non-confidence, which was rejected by a small margin. In September 1863, he accepted an appointment as judge of the Superior Court in the Saint-Hyacinthe district, serving until 1887.