Felix Hebert

Infobox Officeholder
name = Felix Hebert


imagesize =150px
jr/sr =United States Senator
state =Rhode Island
term_start =March 4 1929
term_end =January 3 1935
predecessor=Peter G. Gerry
successor =Peter G. Gerry
birth_date = birth date|1874|12|11
birth_place = St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
death_date = death date and age|1969|12|14|1874|12|11
death_place = Warwick, Rhode Island
other_names =
party =Republican
spouse =Virginia Provost

Felix Hebert (December 11, 1874 - December 14, 1969) was a United States Senator from Rhode Island. Born near St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada, he came to the United States when his parents, Edouard and Catherine (Vandale) Hebert, returned in 1880 and resumed their residence in the town of Coventry, Rhode Island. He attended the public schools, the parish school of St. Jean Baptiste (West Warwick and La Salle Academy (Providence). He was employed as a railroad freight billing clerk from 1893 to 1896 and as a private secretary from 1896 to 1898 he was deputy insurance commissioner of Rhode Island from 1898 to 1906, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1907 and commenced practice in Providence. He was justice of the district court of the fourth judicial district of Rhode Island from 1908 to 1928, trustee of the Nathanael Greene Homestead Association of Rhode Island from 1924 to 1934, and a member and secretary of the Providence County Courthouse Commission from 1925 to 1934.

Hébert was elected as a Republican to the U.S. Senate and served from March 4, 1929, to January 3, 1935; he was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1934. While in the Senate, he was Republican whip from 1933 to 1935, and chairman of the Committee on Patents (Seventy-second Congress). He resumed the practice of law, was a member of the Republican National Committee from 1944 to 1952, and was advisory counsel to the Associated Factory Mutual Fire Insurance Companies. He died in Warwick in 1969; interment was in St. Joseph's Cemetery, West Warwick.

Mr. Hebert had thirteen siblings including Rev. Mathias A. Hebert, who on December 16, 1922 was appointed by Bishop William A. Hickey as the second pastor of St. Cecilia Parish of Pawtucket, RI.Prominent in legal circles and in the general life of Providence, and the town of West Warwick, is Judge Felix Hebert, whose career as an attorney and judge and as the holder of several other important public offices has won for him the respect and esteem of the community, and made him an influential man in local affairs. Judge Hebert is the son of Edouard and Catherine (Vandale) Hebert, both of whom were early immigrants to this State from Canada, coming here respectively at the ages of fifteen and seven years. The elder Mr. Hebert was the son of a prosperous farmer in the Province of Quebec, and in spite of his early age was himself engaged in that occupation before coming to the United States. Upon first coming to this country, the parents made their home at Coventry, where the young man took up mill work for a time, and was later in business as a custom bootmaker. Eventually he engaged in the boot and shoe business at Anthony, in the town of Coventry, and while living there was one of the founders (1870), and a trustee for thirty years, of St. Jean Baptiste Roman Catholic Church. Mr. and Mrs. Edouard Hebert were the parents of thirteen children, one of whom is the subject of this sketch.

The birth of Felix Hebert occurred December 11, 1874, at St. Guillaume, in the Province of Quebec, Canada, during a sojourn at that place made by his father and mother on account of the former's health. Shortly after, they returned with their son to Coventry, and it was at the public schools of that place that the lad secured the elementary portion of his education. He afterwards attended La Salle Academy at Providence, from which he was graduated with the class of 1893. Upon completing his studies at the latter institution, the young man sought for and secured employment as a stenographer with the New York and New England Railroad Company, where he was rapidly promoted to positions of responsibility. He remained with this concern for about three years, when he became secretary to the late General Charles R. Brayton. Another period of three years was spent by him in this capacity, and he then received an appointment as clerk in the office of Treasurer Walter A. Read, where he worked for one year. In the year 1899 he was appointed deputy insurance commissioner of the State of Rhode Island, and held this responsible post continuously until 1917. During this long term he not only discharged his duties to the entire satisfaction of the department, but also took up the study of law, and was admitted to practice at the Rhode Island bar in 1907. In the year 1910 he was chosen judge of the District Court of the Fourth Judicial District, and continued to occupy that important and responsible post. Judge Hebert made a specialty of insurance law. He is a Republican in politics. Judge Hebert is a Roman Catholic and is a member of the parish of St. Jean Baptiste, Arctic Centre, of which his father was one of the founders. He is a member of various societies and clubs, including the Catholic Club, and the Turk's Head Club of Providence.

Judge Hebert was united in marriage, September 18, 1900, with Virginia M. Provost, a daughter of Octave and Virginie (Deslauriers) Provost, of Ware, Mass., where the wedding was performed. Four children have been born to Judge and Mrs. Hebert, as follows: Catherine Virginia, who is now attending Sacred Heart Academy at Fall River; Adrien Warner, a pupil in the West Warwick High School; Marguerite Rosalie, and Edouard Felix, both of whom attend the public schools of West Warwick.

References

*CongBio|H000436