Pamphile Lemay
Pamphile Lemay was a notable figure in 19th-century Quebec, recognized primarily for his contributions to lyric poetry. Born into a large family as the first of fourteen children, he received his education from the Frères des Écoles Chrétiennes and later attended the Seminaire de Quebec. Initially on a path to become a lawyer, Lemay pivoted towards priesthood at the University of Ottawa, although health issues hindered his studies. Ultimately, he earned a law degree and practiced law while also engaging in translation work for the Parliament of Ottawa. Notably, his literary career began with the publication of "Essais poétiques," which included a significant translation of Longfellow's "Evangeline." Lemay's literary achievements earned him an honorary doctorate from Laval University and recognition from France's educational system. He continued to write into his later years, producing prose works like "Contes vrais." His deep religious convictions were evident even in death, as he was buried wearing the dress of an associate of St. Francis of Assisi.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Pamphile Lemay
Poet
- Born: January 5, 1837
- Birthplace: Lotbinière, Quebec, Canada
- Died: June 11, 1918
Biography
Pamphile Lemay, best known for his lyric poetry, was born in Quebec during the first half of the nineteenth century as the first of Leon and Louise (Auger) Lemay’s fourteen children. Lemay attended elementary school under the tutelage of les Frères des Écoles Chrétiennes at Trois Rivières and intermediate school under the notary of Lotbinière. As was the custom of the times, he next attended seminary at Seminaire de Quebec, graduating mid-century. Until this time, he had been on a path to be a lawyer, but paused, working a variety of positions while he remained indecisive about his course.
Lemay enrolled at the seminary at the University of Ottawa to become a priest, but severe stomach pain that would plague him all his life prevented the completion of study. Lemay eventually did get a law degree from the seminary at the University of Ottawa and took up practice. During his studies, he was in the same class as poet Louis Fréchette; both worked as translators for the legislative assembly.
He married Celima Robitaille, fifteen years after he graduated from Ottawa; he was called to the bar the same year. The couple in time had fourteen children. Lemay’s interest in practicing had flagged, so he took a translating job with the Parliament of Ottawa. It was a big year for Lemay, as his first volume of verse, Essais poetiques, was also published. This work is of special note as the introduction was his own translation of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Evangeline, which was published five years later as a book on its own merits.
While Lemay worked on a catalogue for the library and his poetry, he did reading of his work in Crémazie’s Quebec bookshop, a gathering place for Quebec’s thriving population of intellectual elites. Lemay’s literary works won him an honorary doctorate from Laval University in in the later half of the nineteenth century, and the medallion of an officer of public instruction of France in the very early twentieth century. Lemay’s interest next turned to prose. One of his best prose works, Contes vrais, was written and published at the turn of the century.
Lemay wrote prolifically until his death at eighty-one. He lived his last years with a son-in-law, writing two books while there. He was buried with the dress of an associate of St. Francis of Assisi, reflecting his strong feeling about the religious tenets he held close all his life.