Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Fréchette, Louis Honoré
FRÉCHETTE, LOUIS HONORÉ (1839–1908), Canadian poet and journalist, born at Lévis, opposite Quebec, on 16 Nov. 1839, was eldest son of Louis Fréchette, a contractor, whose family was originally established in Ile de Ré, Saintonge. His mother was Marguerite Martineau de Lormière. After education at the Quebec Seminary and Nicolet College, young Fréchette passed to Laval University (Quebec), McGill University, and Queen's University. Becoming a law-student in Quebec in 1861 he published a first volume of (French) poetry 'Mes Loisirs' in 1863, and next year was called to the bar, but did not practise seriously, although he only retired from the profession in 1879. In 1865 he went to Chicago and there devoted himself for six years to journalism. He then edited 'L'Amérique,' and was for a time corresponding secretary of the Illinois Central railway in succession to Thomas Dickens, a brother of the novelist. His poetic reputation was enhanced by a second volume of verse 'La Voix d'un Exilé' (pt. i. 1866; pt. ii. 1868), in which he showed the strength both of his French patriotism and of his clerical antipathies. In 1871 he moved to New Orleans. There, while the siege of Paris was in progress, he showed his devotion to France by fighting a duel with a retired German officer, whom he had offended in a theatre by avowing his French sympathies; he had never used a sword before. In the same year he returned to Quebec.
Turning to politics, he unsuccessfully contested his native place, Lévis, at the general election of 1871 in the liberal interest; but in 1874, when Alexander Mackenzie [q. v.] came into power, he won the seat. He was a consistent supporter of the Mackenzie liberal government. He failed to retain the seat in 1878 and 1882, and thenceforward devoted to journalism all the energies that he spared from poetry. He edited his 'Journal de Québec,' contributed largely to 'L'Opinion Publique,' and during 1884-5 was editor of 'La Patrie.' He wrote frequently, too, for the American magazines the 'Forum,' 'Harper's,' and the 'Arena.' In 1889 the Mercier government appointed him clerk of the legislative council in Quebec, and he held the post till death.
Meanwhile Fréchette was publishing further volumes in verse: 'Pêle-Mêle (Montreal, 1877), 'Les Oiseaux de Neige' (Quebec, 1880), 'Les Fleurs Boréalis' (Dijon, 1881), 'Les Oubliés,' and 'Voix d'Outre Mer' (1886), 'La Legende d'un Peuple' (1887), and 'Leg Feuilles Volantes' (1891). 'Les Fleurs Boréales' and 'Les Oiseaux de Neige' were crowned by the French Academy in 1880, and Fréchette was the recipient of the first Montyon prize for the year. He was also made an officier d'Académie lauréat of the Institute of France. The leading universities of Canada conferred honorary degrees upon him (LL.D, McGill University, Montreal, and Queen's University, Kingston, in 1881, and Toronto University in 1900; D.Lit. at Laval University in 1888), and in 1897, the year of the diamond jubilee, he was created C.M.G. He was furthermore president of the Royal Society of Canada. Besides poetry, Fréchette published prose works, including 'Lettres à Basile' (1872), 'Histoire Critique des Rois de France' (1881), and 'Originaux et Détraqués' (Montreal, 1892), the most lively and original of his prose compositions. A collection of tales, 'La Noël en Canada,' appeared in both English and French versions (1899-1900). Fréchette also attempted drama in 'Félix Poutré' (Montreal, 1871), 'Papineau,' and 'Véronica' (in five acts), but these, although vigorously written, lack dramatic instinct. At his death he had in preparation an authoritative edition of his poems. It appeared posthumously at Montreal in 1908 (three series), and it contains all the poems by which Fréchette desired to be remembered. Age softened his ardours against the church, and consequently the unclerical verses of 'La Voix d'un Exilé' find no place in this final edition. He died at Montreal on 31 May 1908.
As a poet Fréchette owes much to Victor Hugo, both in the mechanism of his Unes and in the logical method of developing his themes. His poetry is held in high esteem by French-Canadians, who rank only Crémazie beside him. His friend Senator David said 'Fréchette n'avait pas le souffle, la puissance d'invention et de conception de Crémazie, mais il avait plus d'abondance, de souplesse, de forme, il était plus complet, plus émotif, plus chaud.' If Fréchette lack Hugo's vibrant lyrical quality, he is by no means his unsuccessful imitator in patriotic verse. The best measure of his talent will be found in 'La Légende d'un Peuple,' in which he commemorates with skill, vigour, and variety the history of the French race. In contrast to William Henry Drummond [q. v. Suppl. II], whose French types show no resentment against English rule, Fréchette presents the rarer French-Canadian sentiment which failed to reconcile itself to the events which brought 'perfide Albion' upon the scene in 1759. For purposes of poetry this attitude of mind may pass, but Drummond's is the truer picture.
Frechette married in 1876 Emma, second daughter of Jean Baptiste Beaudry, banker, Montreal. She survived her husband with three daughters.
[The Times, 2 and 25 June 1908; Who's Who, 1908; Sir J. G. Bourinot, Story of Canada, 1896, p. 441 (portrait).]