Pierre-Marie Fitzpatrick is next to Fr. Abélard Sauvageau considered one of the most iconic statesmen that Quebec has ever produced. Fitzpatrick arose to prominence when serving as Minister for National Security during the Sunset War. Though Quebec remained neutral and the war never reached North America, the job gave him the opportunity to travel around, inspect national guards and lecture on the topic of preparedness in case of a British invasion. His face soon became considered one of a reliable, trustworthy figure, and when the PPC briefly ended in opposition following their upset defeat in the 1909 election, he grabbed the leadership of himself, and was to remain leader of the Catholic Popular Party for the next two decades, serving as Prime Minister three times. No leader of the PPC has remained at the helm of the party for as long as him, which is a bit ironic, seeing Fitzpatrick was not a Catholic himself, but a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Quebec, who is said to have read Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion at least once every year.
Fitzpatrick is perhaps best known for being talked into holding a referendum on making Quebec a monarchy by his longtime friend and major PPC donor Ivan Von Fersen, Jr. following the Fitzpatrick-Deschanel Affair in 1925. Following a massive victory for the pro-monarchists in the referendum in 1926, Lothaire, the youngest of Philip VII of France's sons, was duly invited and accepted to become King of Quebec, taking the throne in 1927, as the Monarchist Constitution went into effect.
Fitzpatrick retired in 1931, and died in his home in 1935.
Fitzpatrick is perhaps best known for being talked into holding a referendum on making Quebec a monarchy by his longtime friend and major PPC donor Ivan Von Fersen, Jr. following the Fitzpatrick-Deschanel Affair in 1925. Following a massive victory for the pro-monarchists in the referendum in 1926, Lothaire, the youngest of Philip VII of France's sons, was duly invited and accepted to become King of Quebec, taking the throne in 1927, as the Monarchist Constitution went into effect.
Fitzpatrick retired in 1931, and died in his home in 1935.