The 89th Temiscouata and Rimouski Battalion of Infantry recruited Eugène Fiset at age 16, marking the beginning of a professional trajectory that spanned military surgery, federal legislation, and provincial administration. Over the course of seven decades, this Canadian physician transitioned from battlefield medicine to the highest executive levels of Quebec governance, holding the office of Lieutenant Governor for over a decade.
Medical Training and Early Service
Born in Rimouski in 1874, Fiset pursued his medical education at Laval University, where he earned an M.D. In 1899, he assumed the role of surgeon for the 89th Battalion. His clinical development included international internships at the Nose and Throat Hospital in London and L'Hôpital Saint-Antoine in Paris following his tour of duty in the South African War, where he served with the Second (Special Service) Battalion of The Royal Canadian Regiment.
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Fiset rose through the ranks of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, becoming its Director-General in 1903. By the outbreak of World War I, he reached the rank of major-general, serving as the third Canadian Surgeon General. His wartime contributions earned him a knighthood, the Distinguished Service Order, and the rank of Commandeur of the Legion of Honour from the French government.
Parliamentary and Gubernatorial Roles
After retiring from military service in 1923, Fiset entered federal politics. He served as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Rimouski from 1924 through 1939, encompassing terms between 1924-1925, 1925-1926, 1926-1930, 1930-1935, and 1935-1939. Additionally, he acted as Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence. In 1939, he was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, a position he held until 1950. He died in 1951 in Rivière-du-Loup.
Fast facts
- Born: 1874, Rimouski
- Died: 1951, Rivière-du-Loup
- Education: Laval University
- Highest Military Rank: Major-general
- Parliamentary Service: 1924–1939
- Lieutenant Governor of Quebec: 1939–1950
- Notable Award: Commander of the Legion of Honour
Questions readers ask
What medical roles did Eugène Fiset hold?
He was a surgeon for the 89th Battalion and the third Canadian Surgeon General.
Did Fiset serve in the military during his political career?
While he was a career politician after 1924, he notably wore his major-general's uniform to open the Quebec legislative assembly during World War II to show support for the war effort.
Achievements
- Commander of the Legion of Honour
- Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Order of Saint John
- Order of the Crown
- Order of St. Sava
