till 1878. In November, 1876, he became a member of the privy council as minister of inland revenue, and on 8 June, 1877, he was made minister of justice, which office he held until the resignation of the government in September, 1878. While holding this office Mr. Laflamme introduced a bill for further securing the independence of parliament, a bill giving to the decrees of the Ontario maritime court the same meaning and weight as are attached to those of the court of chancery, and one providing for the abolition of the office of receiver-general. He declined a puisne judgeship in the supreme court in 1875.
LAFLECHE, Louis Francois Richer, Canadian R. C. bishop, b. in Sainte Anne de la Perade, Quebec, 4 Sept., 1818. He was educated at Nicolet college, ordained priest in 1844, and was a missionary near Red river from 1844 till 1856. He was appointed a professor at Nicolet college in 1856, vicar-general of Three Rivers in 1859, bishop of
Anthedon in partibus infidelium in 1866, and was
consecrated second R. C. bishop of Three Rivers in
1870. He is the author of a series of articles on
the relation of religion in the family to society,
first published in the Three Rivers "Journal "
(Three Rivers, 1866), and "Mandements et autres
actes Episcopaux " (3 vols., 1880).
LAFOND DE LURCY, Gabriel, French explorer, b. in Lurcy Levy, Allier, 25 March, 1802 ;
d. in Paris, 11 April, 1876. He studied in Moulins,
entered the merchant marine in 1818, and four
years later had command of a ship. For several
years he traded with both Americas, but, after inheriting a large estate, he travelled more for pleasure than for mercantile purposes, visiting Chili, Brazil, and Central America in 1831-6. In 1849 he became Costa Rican consul in Paris, and in the
following year minister of the same republic, which
post he held for twenty years. He was elected
a member of the Geographical society of Paris in
1851, and corresponding member of the American geographical society in 1857. He published "Des Iles Marquises et des colonies de la France dans l'Amerique et l'Oceanie" (Paris, 1842): "Voyages autour du monde et nauf rages celebres"
(8 vols., 1843); "De l'emancipation de l'esclavage dans les colonies Franchises de l'Amerique " (1844); "Etudes sur l'Amerique Espagnole" (1848); "Quinze ans de voyage autour du monde" (2 vols., 1849); and " Cartes de l'Amerique Central " (1853).
LAFONTAINE, Sir Louis Hypolite, bart, Canadian statesman, b. in Boucherville, Lower
Canada, in October, 1807; d. in Montreal, 26 Feb.,
1864. He studied and practised law, and when he
had gained a competence became a follower, and
afterward a rival, of Louis J. Papineau (q. v.), acting with the party of "La Jeune France." On 4 Nov., 1838, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Mr. Lafontaine on the charge of high treason. At that time he was about to proceed to England as
the agent of his compatriots, and before his departure underwent an examination before a special tribunal on the charge that had been preferred against him. On arriving in England he did not
regard himself as safe, and, with the assistance of
Edward Ell ice, a wealthy Canadian, escaped into
France. As no evidence incriminating him had
been adduced, he returned to Canada. In 1841 he
became a candidate for the representation of Terrebonne, but withdrew from the contest before its
close, and was afterward elected for North York,
Upper Canada. Under Sir Charles Bagot, Mr. Lafontaine in 1842 became a member of the administration. This was about the time of the inauguration of responsible government in Canada. On 28 Nov., 1844, he and his colleagues in office were
compelled to resign, but in 1848 he again became a member of the government, and remained in office until October, 1851, when the Hincks-Tuché administration was formed. On 13 Aug., 1853, lie was appointed chief justice of the court of queen's bench, and on 28 Aug., 1854, was created a baronet.
LAFONTE, Aunet, clergyman, b. in Ambert, Auvergne, France, 2 Oct., 1812; d. in New York
city, 7 Jan., 1875. He studied theology in the
Seminary of Clermont-Ferrand, and became professor of philosophy, and afterward of theology, in that institution. He was ordained priest in 1837, entered the Society of the fathers of mercy in 1839, and was among the first missionaries of his order sent to the United States. He founded the French
congregation in Canal street, New York, in 1842,
introduced into this country the order of Christian
brothers, and harbored the first Jesuits that came
to the United States. He established the school of
St. Vincent de Paul in New York city, founded the
orphan asylum of the same name there in 1860,
and was active in the erection of its fine building.
LA FOREST, Antoine René Charles Mathurin, Comte de, diplomatist, b. in Aire, France, 8 Aug., 1756; d. 2 Aug., 1846. Retiring from the army, he entered the diplomatic service in 1774, and in November, 1778, was attached to the French legation in the United States. He was successively vice-consul at Savannah, Philadelphia, and New
York, and in 1785 became consul-general. He returned to France in 1792, and was again consul-general to the United States in 1794-'5. He was placed at the head of the French post-office department after the 18th Brumaire, in 1800 was minister
to the congress of Luneville, minister to Berlin
in 1803-6, and to Spain in 1808-'13. He was
made a peer of France in 1819, and minister of
state and member of the privy council in 1825.
LAFOREY, Sir Francis, bart., British naval
officer, b. in Virginia about 1760; d. in England in
1835. His great-grandfather was of a noble family in Poitou, France, and went to England with
William III. During the American Revolution Sir
Francis entered the British navy. In 1791 he attained the rank of commander, and in 1793 that
of captain. He was nominated a K. C. B. in 1815,
promoted vice-admiral in 1819, and admiral in
1832. He commanded the "Spartiate," of 74 guns,
at the battle of Trafalgar, and at one time captured
two French frigates. His last duty seems to have
been on the Barbadoes station as commander-in-
chief. He left no heir, having never married.
LAFRAGUA, Jose Maria (lah-frah'-guah), Mexican statesman, b. in Puebla, 2 April, 1813; d. in the city of Mexico. 15 Nov., 1875. He entered Caroline college in 1824, and in 1835 was admitted to the bar and appointed professor of civil law and secretary of the academy of jurisprudence. He also devoted himself to politics and literature, contributing to various journals. In 1837 he was elected by the Federal party of Puebla representative to Mexico, took part in the direction of several political papers, and in 1842 he was chosen a deputy to the constituent congress. In consequence of his opposition to Santa- Anna he was arrested, with others, on 2 May, 1843, but, after six weeks' imprisonment, set at liberty in consequence of an amnesty. He continued his opposition to the dictator, and in consequence of a political speech was imprisoned again ; but, to avoid public indignation, Santa-Anna released him on the following day, and even offered him as satisfaction the place of minister to Spain, which Lafragua refused. He was secretary of the chamber of depu-
