Pierre-Dominique Debartzch

Who was Pierre-Dominique Debartzch?

Pierre-Dominique Debartzch was a lawyer, seigneur, newspaper owner and political figure in Lower Canada.

He was born in Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu in 1782, the son of a merchant of Polish descent, and studied at Harvard College. He articled in law with Denis-Benjamin Viger and was called to the bar in 1806. Debartzch was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada for Kent in 1809 and again in 1810. He supported the parti canadien. Debartzch was a captain in the militia and led a company at the Battle of Châteauguay. In 1814, he was named to the Legislative Council. In 1815, Debartzch married Josette, the daughter of legislative councillor Charles de Saint-Ours and Josette Murray, whose great-uncle was former governor James Murray. In 1822, he helped lead opposition to a plan to unite Upper and Lower Canada. He purchased the seigneury of Saint-François in 1826. He founded the newspaper L'Écho du pays in 1833 and then Le Glaneur in 1836. He served on the Executive Council from 1837 to 1841. In 1841, Debartzch bought the seigneury of Cournoyer.

He died at Saint-Marc-sur-Richelieu in 1846 and was buried at Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu.