Théodore Robitaille

Théodore Robitaille, PC (29 January 1834 – 17 August 1897) was a Canadian physician, politician, and the fourth Lieutenant Governor of Quebec.[1]

The Hon. Théodore Robitaille
Senator for Gulf, Quebec
In office January 29, 1885 – August 17, 1897
Nominated by	John A. Macdonald
Preceded by	Louis Robitaille
Succeeded by	Jean-Baptiste Romuald Fiset
4th Lieutenant Governor of Quebec
In office July 25, 1879 – October 4, 1884
Monarch	Victoria
Governors General	Marquess of Lorne The Marquess of Lansdowne
Premier	Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière Joseph-Adolphe Chapleau Joseph-Alfred Mousseau John Jones Ross
Preceded by	Luc Letellier de St-Just
Succeeded by	Louis-Rodrigue Masson
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Bonaventure
In office September 20, 1867 – July 25, 1879
Succeeded by	Pierre-Clovis Beauchesne
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec for Bonaventure
In office July 1, 1871 – January 7, 1874
Preceded by	Clarence Hamilton
Succeeded by	Pierre-Clovis Beauchesne
Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for Bonaventure
In office 1861–1866
Personal details
Born	(1834-01-29)29 January 1834 Varennes, Lower Canada
Died	17 August 1897(1897-08-17) (aged 63) New Carlisle, Quebec, Canada
Political party	Conservative
Spouse	Emma Quesnel ​ (m. 1867)​
Residence	New Carlisle, Quebec
Alma mater	McGill College
Occupation	Physician and businessman
Profession	Politician
Cabinet	Receiver General for Canada (1873)

Born in Varennes, Lower Canada, the son of Louis-Adolphe Robitaille (pronounced "ro-bee-tie") and Marie-Justine Monjeau, he was baptized as Louis-François-Christophe-Théodore. A physician, he graduated from McGill College in 1858 and settled in New Carlisle, Quebec.[2] In 1861, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for the riding of Bonaventure. In 1867, he was elected to the House of Commons of Canada. A Conservative he was re-elected in 1872, an 1873 ministerial by-election, 1874, and 1878. In 1873, he was appointed Receiver General.[3]

In 1871, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec in Bonaventure and served until 1874 when holding a federal and provincial seat was abolished. From 1879 to 1884, he was the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec. Notably, during his tenure he commissioned Calixa Lavallée and Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier to prepare the music and French lyrics to what would become Canada's national anthem, O Canada. In 1885, he was appointed to the Senate representing the senatorial division of Gulf, Quebec. He served until his death in New Carlisle, Quebec in 1897.[3]