François-Xavier Garneau

François-Xavier Garneau (June 15, 1809 – February 2 or February 3, 1866) was a nineteenth century French Canadian poet, civil servant and liberal who wrote a three volume history of the French Canadian nation entitled "Histoire du Canada" between 1845 and 1848.

Born in Quebec City, Garneau argued that Conquest was a tragedy, the consequence of which was a perpetual struggle against the forces of English Canada for the French Canadian nation; this struggle would continue into the future as long as French Canadians were under the oppressive reign of the British. The book was originally written as a response to the Durham report, which claimed that French Canadian culture was stagnant and that it would be best served through Anglophone assimilation.

Garneau died on February 2 or February 3, 1866.

Works

* François-Xavier Garneau. "History of Canada : from the time of its discovery till the union year", Montreal : J. Lovell, 1860 (Internet Archive: [http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=creator%3A%22Garneau%2C%20F.-X%22 All 3 Volumes] )

References

* [http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=4446 Biography at the "Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online"]
*fr icon [http://www.escgarneau.com/historique/francois.php Biography of Garneau] - Provided by École Secondaire Catholique Garneau, a French language school named after him.