Joseph Tassé

Joseph Tassé, born on October twenty-third, eighteen forty-eight, in L'Abord-à-Plouffe, Lower Canada, was a multifaceted Canadian writer, translator, and politician. He began his academic journey studying the Classics at the Collège Bourget, which laid a strong foundation for his future endeavors. After graduation, he articled in law offices across Montreal, Plattsburgh, New York, and Ottawa, although he ultimately chose to pursue a career in journalism rather than law.

In the 1860s, Tassé made his mark in the world of journalism, working for notable newspapers such as Ottawa's Le Canada and Montreal's La Minerve, where he started as a translator in eighteen sixty-eight. His dedication and talent led him to become the editor of La Minerve, and in eighteen seventy-two, he took on the role of official translator for the House of Commons of Canada. During this time, he developed a keen interest in the history of the Canadian West, resulting in the publication of his two-volume work, Les Canadiens de l'Ouest, in eighteen seventy-eight.

After six years as a translator, Tassé transitioned into politics, aligning himself with the Conservative Party. He was elected twice to the House of Commons, representing the Ontario electoral district of City of Ottawa, first in the federal election of eighteen seventy-eight and again in eighteen eighty-two. However, his political career faced a setback in eighteen eighty-seven when he lost the Quebec riding of Laprairie by a mere twenty-three votes, a defeat attributed to his support of the Conservative government's actions during the Red River Rebellion and the execution of Louis Riel.

On February ninth, eighteen ninety-one, Tassé was appointed to the Senate of Canada by Sir John A. Macdonald, representing the senatorial division of De Salaberry, Quebec. He continued to serve in this capacity until his passing, leaving behind a legacy as a dedicated journalist, translator, and parliamentarian.