Esioff-Léon Patenaude

The Honourable Esioff-Léon Patenaude PCQC
17thLieutenant Governor of Quebec
In office April 29, 1934 – December 30, 1939
Monarchs	George V Edward VIII George VI
Governors General	The Earl of Bessborough The Lord Tweedsmuir
Premier	Louis-Alexandre Taschereau Adélard Godbout Maurice Duplessis
Preceded by	Henry George Carroll
Succeeded by	Eugène Fiset
Member of theCanadian Parliament forHochelaga
In office October 15, 1915 – December 17, 1917
Preceded by	Louis Coderre
Succeeded by	Joseph Edmond Lesage
Member of theLegislative Assembly of QuebecforLaprairie
In office June 8, 1908 – October 15, 1915
Preceded by	Côme-Séraphin Cherrier
Succeeded by	Wilfrid Cédilot
Member of theLegislative Assembly of QuebecforJacques-Cartier
In office February 5, 1923 – October 8, 1925
Preceded by	Joseph-Séraphin-Aimé Ashby
Succeeded by	Victor Marchand
Personal details
Born	(1875-02-12)February 12, 1875 Saint-Isidore, Quebec
Died	February 7, 1963(1963-02-07)(aged 87) Montreal, Quebec
Resting place	Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery
Nationality	Canadian
Political party	Conservative
Other political affiliations	Conservative Party of Quebec
Spouse	Georgiana Deniger dit Poupart
Cabinet	Minister of Inland Revenue Secretary of State of Canada Minister of Mines Minister of Marine and Fisheries (Acting) Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Esioff-Léon Patenaude,PC,QC,often calledE.L. Patenaude(February 12, 1875 – February 7, 1963), was a Canadian statesman who served as the17thLieutenant Governor of Quebec.Born in Saint-Isidore,Quebec,in 1875, he studied law at theUniversity of Montrealand was called to theQuebec Barin 1899. He established a successful law practice, was soon drawn to politics, and served as a chief organizer for theConservative Party of CanadainMontreal.

He was first elected to theQuebec National Assemblyas aConservativeinLa Prairiein the1908 provincial electionand was re-elected in the1912 election.In 1915, he was elected to theHouse of Commons of Canadain a by-election and joined the government of Prime Minister SirRobert BordenasMinister of Inland Revenue.He served in that position until early 1917, when he was appointed asSecretary of StateandMinister of Mines.In July, however, Patenaude resigned from theCanadian Cabinetin protest of the government's decision to implementconscription.He chose not to seek re-election in the1917 federal election.WhenArthur Meighenbecame Prime Minister in 1920, he offered Patenaude a seat in cabinet, who declined.

Esioff-Léon Patenaude atSaint Helen's Island,1938

Returning to provincial politics, Patenaude was re-elected to the Quebec National Assembly inJacques-Cartierin 1923. In 1925, however, Meighen persuaded Patenaude to return to federal politics as hisQuebec lieutenant.He was given almost exclusive authority over the Conservative Party's campaign in Quebec during the1925 federal electionas Meighen'sQuebec lieutenant.Patenaude proved, however, to be little match forErnest Lapointeand theLiberal Party of Canada,and secured only 4 seats in the province. Patenaude, who had resigned his seat in theQuebec National Assemblyto contest the election, was himself defeated.

Despite the setback, Patenaude continued to enjoy the favour of Meighen. When Meighen formed a second government in 1926, he appointed Patenaude asMinister of JusticeandAttorney General of Canada.Patenaude led the Conservative Party in Quebec for a second time during the1926 federal electionbut again fared poorly and was himself defeated.

In 1934, theGovernor General of Canada,on the advice of Canadian Prime MinisterRichard Bedford Bennett,appointed Patenaude asLieutenant Governor of Quebec,a position in which he served until his retirement from public life in 1939. In his later years, he experienced a successful career as a banker (became President of theProvincial Bank of Canadain 1946) and businessman (as director of McColl Frontenac,Crown Life Insuranceand board ofTexaco Canada).

Electoral record

By-election on 15 October 1915 Coderre appointed Puisne Judge, Superior Court of Quebec, 6 October 1915
Party		Candidate	Votes
	Conservative	Esioff-Léon Patenaude	acclaimed

External links

• Esioff-Léon Patenaude – Parliament of Canada biography
• "Biography".Dictionnaire des parlementaires du Québec de 1792 à nos jours(in French).National Assembly of Quebec.