Chevalier's legacy can be seen in Canadian society today where his story has inspired an opera, a postage stamp, government debate, a monument and a motion picture.
Synopsis: The final day in the life of rebel patriots Marie-Thomas De Lorimier and Charles Hindelang, who were hanged by the British army on February 15, 1839, after leading a failed revolt against the British occupation of Quebec (then called Lower Canada).
Read reviews, cast and credits for 15 Février 1839:
Composed by renowned French Canadian composer, Gilbert Patenaude. Patenaude has conducted the Petits Chanteurs du Mont Royal since 1978. He has composed chamber music, melodies, works for chorus and orchestra, sacred music and theatrical pieces. At the head of many vocal ensembles, he has created hundreds of arrangements and harmonizations. Listen to clips from Chevalier de Lorimier the Opera and purchase the CD if its available on Amazon.com .
IMPASSIONED GOVERNMENT DEBATE
Canadian House of Commons Debates (Taken from the official report)
Statements by members
February 16, 1998ANNIVERSARY OF CHEVALIER DE LORIMIER’S DEATH
Mr. Stéphane Bergeron (Verchères, BQ): Mr. Speaker yesterday was the 159th anniversary of the hanging of five valorous Patriots, including Chevalier de Lorimier. On this sad day when the federal government is trying to manipulate the Supreme Court in order to deny the Quebec people the right to decide their own future, let us remember that the Patriots fought for freedom and democracy.
The night before he was hanged, de Lorimier wrote:
“I die remorseless. I was only seeking what was best for my country—Despite my misfortune, my heart still has hopes for the future. My friends and my children will see better days; they will know freedom. There is no doubt about it, my clear conscience tells me so—I have only a few hours to live and I wanted to divide this precious time between my devotions and my duties to my fellow countrymen. For them, I am condemned to the gallows to die the infamous death of a murderer; for them, I leave my young children and my wife behind—and for them, I die shouting ‘‘Long live freedom, long live independence’’.
THE PATRIOTS MONUMENT
Located in the Place of the Patriots in front the site of the old Pied-du-Courant Prison, the Patriots Monument is a testament to those whose died on the scaffold in the winter of 1838-1839. Read more about the Patriots Monument.
THE POSTAGE STAMP
The Saint John the Baptist Society of Montreal issued a limited release of this stamp in 1947 as part of a series honoring Canadian patriots. It was also available in red.
