prior to 1867 |
He studies at the Sault-au-Récollet School |
1867 |
He takes private lessons at night while working in a nail factory. |
1870 |
He works as a clerk in a grocery store. Later, he opens his own grocery store. |
1873 |
A big rise in the water level in the spring destroys his store. He is also in the wood and coal business. |
1881 |
A friend, J.-B. Martin, offers him a partnership in a fruit and vegetable business. The wholesale firm of Laporte & Martin will grow to be one of the largest in Canada. |
1892 |
A fire destroys his warehouse. |
1892-1902 |
He is one of the founders and first President of the Alliance Nationale party. |
1894-1896 |
He is elected President of the "Chambre de Commerce de Montréal", the French equivalent to the Board of Trade (now merged together). |
1897-1904 |
He is elected City Councillor by acclamation and is named President of the Finance Committee. |
1903-1906 |
He becomes a Board member of Montreal's Catholic School Commission. |
1904-1906 |
He is elected Mayor of Montreal. |
1905 |
Under his leadership, Montreal annexes the suburb of St-Henri. |
1907-1934 |
He is named President of the Provincial Bank of Canada. He also acts as President of the wartime (1914-1918) Supply Commission. |
1917 |
He is nominated a member of the Private Council in recognition of services rendered. |
1918-1934 |
Britain's King Georges V knights him. Montreal's McGill University bestows a honoris causa doctorate on him. He becomes President of the "Société d'administration et de fiducie" (a trust firm), of the St-Jean-Baptiste Society (for 3 years), of the Crédit Foncier Franco-canadien (another trust), of the Sauvegarde (an insurance company) and is named Commissioner of the Port of Montreal. |
1934 |
He died in Montreal on the 20th of February at the age of 83, leaving behind 2 children: a daughter and a son. He lived on Dorchester Boulevard, now renamed René-Lévesque Boulevard. |