Arthur Buies
Arthur Buies was a notable French-Canadian intellectual and essayist, born on January 24, 1840, in Côte-des-Neiges, near Montreal. After his parents relocated to Guyana, he was raised by his great-aunts and pursued his education at various institutions in Canada before moving to Paris. Buies' rebellious nature led him to abandon his father’s plans for him in Dublin, opting instead for a tumultuous life in France, where he struggled academically yet supported himself through teaching. Upon returning to Canada, he became an active member of the Institut Canadien, contributing to debates and writing for local publications.
Buies is particularly recognized for his critical writings on the clergy and his advocacy for educational reform, expressed in his controversial treatise "L'Instruction," and through the founding of the newspaper La Lanterne canadienne. His work often challenged societal norms, advocating for a nondenominational education system and the abolition of the death penalty. Among his significant contributions are the three-volume series of "Chroniques," which showcased his witty and humorous takes on various subjects, establishing him as a prominent columnist of his time. He married Marie-Mila Catellier in 1887 and remained a prolific writer until his death on January 26, 1901, near Quebec, leaving behind a legacy as one of the leading French-Canadian literary figures of the late 19th century.
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Arthur Buies
Writer
- Born: January 24, 1840
- Birthplace: Côte-des-Neiges, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Died: January 26, 1901
- Place of death: Quebec, Canada
Biography
Arthur Buies was born on January 24, 1840, in Côte-des-Neiges near Montreal, Canada. He and his sister, Victoire, were left in the care of two great-aunts when their parents, William Buie and Marie-Antoinette-Léocadie d’Estimauville, moved to Guyana, where William Buie had been offered a job as postmaster. From 1849 to 1856, Arthur Buies attended the Collège de Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière, the Séminaire de Nicolet, and the Petit Séminaire de Québec. In an act of rebellion, he moved to Paris soon after his father sent him to Dublin to pursue an English-based education. He studied at the Lycée Saint-Louis in Paris from 1857 to 1859 but failed his examinations four times.
Arthur Buies endured a meager, nomadic existence for the next few years, moving from Paris to Sicily and then back to Paris. He supported himself by giving English and Latin lessons. He moved back to Canada and joined the Institut Canadien, where he gave lectures and participated in debates. He wrote for Le Défricheur, a local newspaper, and published in various journals, including Montreal’s Le Pays. Over the next few years, he wrote several controversial articles criticizing the clergy and praising the pursuit of scientific knowledge, such as “Le Progress,” which was published within the pages of Le Pays in 1864. In 1866 he published L’Instruction, a treatise on French Canadian educational reform. In it, he called for the establishment of a nondenominational school system and more extensive science instruction for children.
Arthur Buies founded the newspaper La Lanterne canadienne in 1868, and he used the newspaper as a forum for expressing his liberal beliefs concerning educational reform and the abolishment of the death penalty. The newspaper was summarily condemned by Montreal’s bishops. Undaunted, Buies continued to fill its pages with biting social commentary.
Buies is probably best known for his three-volume series of Chroniques, which comprised his multifarious and tartly written newspaper and journal columns. The Chroniques were published in three installments during the 1870’s: Chroniques, humeurs, et caprices, Chroniques, voyages, etc., etc., and Petites Chroniques pour 1877. His columns, originally published in Le Pays and other journals, covered a vast array of topics, including politics, philosophy, and travel, and were written in a witty, humorous style. He soon became one of the most popular columnists of his day. He traveled throughout western Canada and wrote extensively of his experiences. He married Marie-Mila Catellier in 1887 and continued to write and publish prolifically. Buies died on January 26, 1901, near Quebec, following an extended illness. He is remembered as one of the great French-Canadian intellectuals and essayists of the late nineteenth century.