Biography Cote Augustin

Augustin Côté, printer and journalist, Quebec, was born in that city in 1818. He is a son of Augustin and Marie-Louise (Letarte) Côté, and first went to a primary school called Bishop's Chapel, where he was prepared to make his first communion in Notre-Dame Church in 1829. He learned the art of printing, and in 1834 worked in company with the now great publisher, John Lovell, of Montreal. In 1837, he began a course of private study, and, in 1842, became sub-editor of La Gazette de Québec, and later on started the Journal de Québec, with Joseph Cauchon, as chief editor, who died in Manitoba in 1885, having been Lieutenant-Governor of that Province. Among Mr. Coté's many publications may be mentioned, Les Relations des Jésuites, in three large volumes, which appeared in 1857-58. He has also printed L'Annuaire de l'Université Laval, since its establishment in 1854. In 1855, he offered a premium for the best abridgment of the History of Canada. The task was accepted by the late Mr. F. X. Garneau, and over 38,000 copies sold up to 1870. In 1861, Mr. Côté was invited to run for the Legislative Assembly, and, at the beginning of Confederation, he was tendered the Post-mastership of Quebec, both of which he declined in order to promote his journal. He has been magistrate since 1855, and Captain in the Militia, under a commission signed by Sir Edmund Head. After an influential course of 47 years, his journal was, by an unexpected event, forced to suspend. Suffice it to say, that our subject has been a great worker, persevering, honest, deserving and universally respected for his many good qualities of head and heart. Mr. Côté was married in 1845 to Miss Caroline Émilie Lemieux, daughter of the late Charles Lemieux. Of a family of thirteen children, eight are living, amongst whom are Augustine, wife of Hon. E. J. Flynn, Minister of Crown Lands; and Amérie, wife of Adolphe Poisson, advocate and Registrat of Arthabaska.