A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography: Being Chiefly Men of the Time: A Collection of Persons Distinguished in Professional and Political Life, Leaders in the Commerce and Industry of Canada, and Successful Pioneers
History
A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography: Being Chiefly Men of the Time: A Collection of Persons Distinguished in Professional and Political Life, Leaders in the Commerce and Industry of Canada, and Successful Pioneers
=La Mothe, Guillaume Jean Baptiste=, Postmaster, Montreal, was born in
Montreal on September 24th, 1824. He is the son of Capt. Joseph Maurice
La Mothe, who married Marie J. Laframboise, in Montreal, on the 1st
February, 1813. Captain Joseph Maurice La Mothe was superintendent of
the Indian Department from 1816 until his decease in 1827. He was also
captain and in command of the Indian allies at the battle of
Chateauguay, and was favourably reported in the orders of the day for
gallant conduct. His grandfather was Captain Joseph La Mothe, who was
born 26th January, 1742, and married 24th November, 1777, to Catherine
Blondeau. In March, 1776, the military commandant in Montreal entrusted
Captain J. La Mothe with most important despatches for General Guy
Carleton, then besieged in Quebec by the American army. Accompanied by
Mr. Papineau (father of the Hon. L. J. Papineau), he started from
Montreal on foot, and after a long and dangerous tramp, managing to
cross the American lines at night, safely delivered the despatches in
proper time, which contributed to the salvation of Quebec. His
great-grandfather was Pierre La Mothe, married first to Marie Anne St.
Ives, and in January, 1740 (being then a widower), he married Angélique
Caron, in Montreal. His father and mother were Bruno La Mothe and Jeanne
Le Valois, who came originally from the diocese of Bordeaux, France. The
family, whose correct name is de La Mothe (as mentioned in old family
documents), was residing in Montreal as early as 1673, and in 1689
Pierre de Saint Paul de La Mothe had the command of the town and island
of Montreal. The subject of our sketch received his education at St.
Hyacinthe College and at Montreal College. In September, 1852, he
received a commission as lieutenant in the Montreal Sedentary Cavalry,
but this position he resigned in March, 1854. On the 17th of January,
1856, he was appointed lieutenant in No. 2 troop Militia Cavalry,
Montreal, and on the 23rd of April, 1857, was retransferred to and
promoted captain in the Sedentary Cavalry of Montreal. On the 7th of
November, 1862, he was transferred to and promoted major commanding the
Rifle Companies (Police) Active force in Montreal. On the 26th of
November, 1861, Captain La Mothe was appointed chief of police for
Montreal. This office he held until the 30th January, 1865, when he
resigned. He effected the capture of the famous St. Albans raiders a few
months previous. And on the 15th of July, 1874, he was appointed to the
postmastership of his native city, and this important position he fills
to-day. Mr. La Mothe has been actively connected with the development of
gold mines in Nova Scotia; copper mines in the Eastern Townships, and
iron mines in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where he discovered the magnetic
iron ore deposit at Moisie. Upon report made to friends respecting the
value of the ore and extent of the deposit, the Moisie Iron Company was
formed. This company has manufactured malleable iron pronounced in
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