Gabriel-Elzéar Taschereau, ca. 1780-1790

Artist: Unknown 203

Medium: Watercolour on ivory
Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.6 cm

Gabriel-Elzéar Taschereau (1745-1809) was the son of Thomas-Jacques Taschereau who came to Canada in 1726 as an official of the French government. At the age of fourteen, Gabriel-Elzéar helped defend Quebec City against the British attack lead by General James Wolfe (Cat. no. 9), and would do the same during the American Revolution when Benedict Arnold (Cat. no. 17), while still an American commander, lead his unsuccessful attack on the city. Taschereau inherited extensive land holdings and held several official positions in the judiciary and civil service during the British administration of Quebec.

This miniature portrait was likely done in Quebec.

National Archives of Canada, negative no. C-092935