Wilfrid Laurier Quotes
I am quite prepared, if we can do it without any disrespect to the Crown of England, to bring our titles to the marketplace and make a bonfire of them.
Canada, Parliament, House of Commons. Official Report of the Debates of the House of Commons. 13th Parliament, 1st Session, 8 Apr. 1918, p. 237.
John Adams was more concerned about the titles and forms of address of the President and Vice President than most of the Founding Fathers. Having spent time in London and Paris representing the nation, he was concerned about the dignity and symbolism of office. McCullough added this insight.
Maria, after being ousted by her former friend, General Baldomero Espartero, comments on his lack of respect.
The second child of Carolus Laurier and Marcelle Martineau, Wilfrid Laurier was born in Saint-Lin, Canada East (modern day Saint-Lin-Laurentides, Quebec), on 20 November 1841. Laurier was among the seventh generation of his family in Canada. He was a sixth-generation Canadian. His ancestor François Cottineau, dit Champlaurier, came to Canada from Saint-Claud, France. He grew up in a family where politics was a staple of talk and debate. His father, an educated man having liberal ideas, enjoyed a certain degree of prestige about town. In addition to being a farmer and surveyor, he also occupied such sought-after positions as mayor, justice of the peace, militia lieutenant and school board member. At the age of 11, Wilfrid left home to study in New Glasgow, a neighbouring village largely inhabited by immigrants from Scotland. Over the next two years, he familiarized himself with the mentality, language and culture of British people. Laurier attended the Collège de L'Assomption and graduated in law from McGill University in 1864.
