BRIAND, JEAN OLIVIER

Seventh bishop of Quebec, Canada; b. Plérin, France, Jan. 23, 1715; d. Quebec, June 25, 1794. He was educated in his native Diocese of Saint-Brieuc, ordained there in 1739, and immigrated to Canada, arriving in 1741 with Bp. H. M. Pontbriand, his predecessor in the See of Quebec. Named canon, he became the bishop's assistant, confessor to the sisters, and then vicar-general. He dedicated himself to these duties during the siege of Quebec (1759) and, through his loyal obedience, gained the good graces of the new English masters. After lengthy negotiations and despite British law, he was recognized as "Superintendent of the Roman Church." This permitted his private consecration as bishop in France in 1766. By his zeal and diplomacy he was able to repair the damages sustained by religious institutions during the war. To replenish his decimated clergy, he ordained 90 priests during his episcopate. He consolidated the Church's situation with the English authorities and in return exacted from his own people a deep loyalty to the British during the American Revolution. He resided at the Seminary of Quebec, contributing generously to its development. He composed a new catechism for the diocese. With approval from London, he chose L. P. d'Esglis as coadjutor with the right of succession and in 1784 turned over the administration of the diocese to him.

Bibliography: h. tÊtu, Les Évêques de Québec (Quebec 1889). a. h. gosselin, L'Église du Canada après la conquête, 2 v. (Quebec 1916-17). f. porter, L'Institution catechistique au Canada français, 1633–1833 (Washington 1949). m. trudel, L'Église canadienne sous le régime militaire, 1759–1764, 2 v. (Montreal 1956-57).

[h. provost]