Bourassa, Henri, << boo rah SAH, ahn REE >> (1868-1952), was a French-Canadian journalist and political leader. He served in the Canadian House of Commons from 1896 to 1899, from 1900 to 1907, and from 1925 to 1935. He was a member of the Quebec legislature from 1908 to 1912. He founded Le Devoir, an influential Montreal newspaper, in 1910. He edited the paper until 1932.
Bourassa fought throughout his life against the harmful effects of materialism and industrialization. He also fought for the equality of the French and English languages and cultures in Canada and for greater Canadian independence from Britain. He opposed sending Canadian soldiers to fight for the British in the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902 or in World War I (1914-1918). Bourassa was born in Montreal on Sept. 1, 1868. He died on Aug. 31, 1952.
See also Laurier, Sir Wilfrid .
