Pierre-Étienne Fortin (1823-1888) National Historic Person
© Topley Studio Fonds, Library and Archives Canada, PA-033704
Pierre-Étienne Fortin was designated as a national historic person in 1953.
Historical importance: President of Quebec Legislative Assembly in 1875-1876.
Commemorative plaque: along the Promenade du Banc, Rue du Banc, Gaspé, QuebecFootnote 1
Pierre-Étienne Fortin (1823-1888)
From 1852 to 1867, as Magistrate in charge of fisheries protection, this “king of the Gulf” defended St. Lawrence fisheries from overexploitation and smuggling. A pioneer conservationist, Fortin recorded numerous species of fish and wildlife living in the Gulf area, and worked to preserve natural resources through regulations. After Confederation, he was elected to represent Gaspé in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec and in the House of Commons, where he fought for the protection of fisheries, forest conservation, the provision of navigational aids, and improved communication links for communities around the Gulf.
Pierre-Étienne Fortin (1823-1888)
As Magistrate in charge of fisheries protection from 1852 to 1867, Pierre-Étienne Fortin earned the nickname “king of the Gulf” for defending St. Lawrence fisheries from overexploitation and smuggling. A pioneer nature conservationist, Fortin compiled descriptions of numerous species of fish and wildlife living in the Gulf region, and worked to preserve the Gulf’s natural resources through regulations. Following Confederation, he was elected to represent Gaspé in Quebec’s Legislative Assembly and in the House of Commons. There, he fought for the protection of fisheries, forest conservation, the provision of navigational aids, and improved communication links for communities around the Gulf.
Born on December 14, 1823, in Verchères, Lower Canada, Pierre-Étienne Fortin spent his childhood in La Prairie. In 1841, he completed his studies at Petit Séminaire de Montréal and then, four years later, earned a medical degree from McGill University. In 1852, he was appointed as the magistrate responsible for the protection of fisheries in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. After the introduction of fisheries legislation in 1857 and 1858, his responsibilities expanded and he travelled the 250,000 square kilometres of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, maintaining law and order among the 30,000 residents along the river.
A pioneer conservationist, Fortin recorded numerous species of fish and wildlife living in the Gulf area. He compiled a collection of birds and described the whale industry and fisheries, expressing his concern that the natural resources of the Gulf would disappear. His reports helped draft a general fisheries act in 1857 and 1858, providing expert advice for the legislation. He also proposed several measures to improve marine, land, rail and telegraph communication methods in the region, fighting for prosperity for the peninsula.
Following Confederation, he was elected to Quebec’s Legislative Assembly and was the first Member of Parliament for Gaspé in the House of Commons. He served in the two legislatures, until dual mandates were abolished in 1873. As an elected member, he continued to advocate for measures that would benefit the Gulf communities, namely, protecting the fisheries, installing navigation aids, promoting forest conservation, improving long-distance communications, and building the Baie des Chaleurs rail line. From 1878 to 1887, he returned to the House of Commons in Ottawa. He subsequently served as a senator until his death on 14 July 1888 in La Prairie.
This press backgrounder was prepared at the time of the plaque unveiling in 2021.
The National Program of Historical Commemoration relies on the participation of Canadians in the identification of places, events and persons of national historic significance. Any member of the public can nominate a topic for consideration by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
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