author
G.-B. (Georges-Barthélemi) Faribault
1789–1866
A lawyer, public servant, and devoted bibliographer from Quebec, he spent much of his life preserving the record of early Canada. His name is especially linked to the creation of the parliamentary library and to a determined effort to rebuild a historic collection after disaster.
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About the author
Born in Quebec on December 3, 1789, Georges-Barthélemi Faribault trained in law and was admitted to the bar in the early 19th century. He also served during the War of 1812, but he is best remembered for the work he did off the battlefield: collecting books, manuscripts, and historical records connected to Canada’s past.
Faribault became an important public servant in Lower Canada and later helped establish the library of the Parliament of Canada. He built a notable historical collection, and when the Parliament building in Montreal burned in 1849 and destroyed many of his books and manuscripts, he began collecting again with remarkable persistence.
He is often described as one of the early figures in Canadian bibliography and historical research. Faribault died in Quebec on December 21, 1866, leaving behind a reputation for patient scholarship, public service, and a deep commitment to preserving Canadian history.