Sir George Etienne Cartier, a Canadian statesman, of the family of Jacques Cartier, born at St. Antoine, Sept. 6, 1814, died in England, May 20, 1873. He was educated at the seminary of St. Sulpice, Montreal, studied law, and in 1835 commenced practice in that city. In polities he became a follower of M. Papi-neau, and when the rebellion of 1837 broke out in Lower Canada, a price of $2,000 was set on his head. He however escaped arrest, and in time an amnesty cast oblivion over the offence, and he lived to be entertained by Queen Victoria at Windsor castle. He was elected to the house of assembly from the county of Ver-eheres in 1848. In 185G he was appointed provincial secretary, and soon became attorney general. In November, 1857, he became leader of the Lower Canada section of the government, J. A. Macdonald being governor. After the provinces were confederated, and distinctions were conferred upon Canadians who had taken part in that change, Cartier considered himself slighted in being only created a commander of the bath while his colleague was knighted. Sir John Macdonald then advised the bestowal on Cartier of a higher title than that conferred on himself, and obtained for him a baronetcy. In August, 1858, Cartier became premier, with Macdonald for his chief Upper Canada colleague.

He assisted in carrying the abolition of the feudal tenure in Lower Canada; in making the legislative council elective, and in that reactionary measure which in 1867 reverted to the practice of crown nomination; in bringing about the codification of the laws of Lower Canada, and in judicial decentralization; and in originating and carrying out the confederation of British America. With the exception of an interval of about a year, he had held some cabinet office since 1858. In 1872 his health failed, and he visited Europe, without, however, resigning his office of minister of militia.