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Between the 1850s and 1880s, nearly half of Québec City’s inhabitants spoke English. Eight English-speaking mayors were elected during this period: George O'Kill Stuart, Charles Alleyn, Joseph Morrin, Thomas Pope, John Lemesurier, William Hossack, Owen Murphy and Robert Chambers. This mosaic specifically shows Mayor Murphy and his city council, composed mainly of English speakers.
1840 - 1889

A partly English-speaking city

Today, the vast majority of Québec City’s population speaks French as their first language. It is hard to imagine that a great part of the city was once English! However, it was the case in the mid-19th century. A large wave of immigration from the British Isles came through Québec City, the point of entry to Canada. The Anglophone presence peaked in Québec City around 1870, when nearly half of the residents, mainly from Ireland, were English-speaking. Come and rediscover Québec City’s English-speaking past!

Mosaic of the Québec City council, in 1874

Auteur inconnu Between the 1850s and 1880s, nearly half of Québec City’s inhabitants spoke English. Eight English-speaking mayors were elected during this period: George O'Kill Stuart, Charles Alleyn, Joseph Morrin, Thomas Pope, John Lemesurier, William Hossack, Owen Murphy and Robert Chambers. This mosaic specifically shows Mayor Murphy and his city council, composed mainly of English speakers.
Chronoscope Who do you recognize in this picture? (unilingual French for a limited time) Source: Ville de Québec Document in the public domain (free of copyright) - Date: 1874