Joseph Louis Archambault

Joseph Louis Archambault, of Montreal, whose reputation as a distinguished and able lawyer has made him well known throughout the province and who is now filling the position of city attorney, was born at Varennes, June 19, 1849, a son of the late J. N. A. and Aurelie (Mongeau) Archambault. The father, who was “a patriot of 1837,” became president of the provincial board of notaries in Quebec and was a distinguished representative of his profession. The son supplemented his early education by study in the College of St. Hyacinthe and in broad literary training laid the foundation upon which he has built the superstructure of professional knowledge. He pursued his law studies under the direction of the late Sir George Cartier and at the same time followed the law course in McGill University, which conferred upon him the B. C. L. degree in 1871. The same year he entered upon active practice as an advocate and has since remained a member of the Montreal bar, although his growing powers and capabilities have won him place among the leaders of the profession in the province. He was created a king’s counsel by the Marquis of Lansdowne in 1887 and became a member of the council of the bar in 1889. For some years he filled the position of crown prosecutor for the district of Montreal and has frequently pleaded before the judicial committee of the privy council in England, having charge of important cases from Canada. He became city attorney of Montreal in 1898 and in the discharge of his official duties has won high honors and encomiums. He has always enjoyed a large private practice and in following his profession has been associated successively as law partner with Sir J. A. Chapleau, Q. C., the Hon. J. A. Mousseau, Q. C. and the Hon. W. W. Linch, Q. C. He has written quite extensively on legal subjects for the newspaper and magazine press and is the author of a number of published volumes, including: Jacques Cartier, an Historical Drama (1879); Etude Legale sur l’Université Laval à Montreal (1880); Institutions Municipales (1887); Le Barreau Canadien au Conseil Privé (1889); Généalogie de la Famille Archambault, 1620-1890 (1891); La Bourgeoisie au Canada, Two Lectures (1894); The Criminal Forum in Canada (1895); and Etude de Moeurs Judiciares (1897). His opinions upon involved legal questions are largely accepted as authority by the profession and the public. He served as batonnier or president of the Montreal bar in 1912 and 1913. In addition to his law practice he is one of the directors of the Rolland Paper Company.

Mr. Archambault was married in Montreal in June, 1873, to Miss Ernestine, the eldest daughter of the late Senator Rolland, of Montreal. In religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Archambault are Catholics, and his political belief is that of the conservative party. He belongs to the Canadian Club and those who meet him socially find him an entertaining, genial and cultured gentleman whose ways are those of refinement and whose word no man can question. The Montreal Star has said of him: “His career has been marked with continuous success and great devotion to the legal profession.” His prominence is the logical outcome of well developed talents and powers and he is justly accounted today one of the leaders of the provincial bar.