Jonathan Sewell House

Jonathan Sewell, the Chief Justice of Quebec for 38 years (Lower Canada, as it was called in the beginning of the 19th Century), lived in this patrimonial house, built in 1803.

The house is located near the St-Louis Gates, on the St-Louis Street.

It was built in the Anglo-American classical style, with lower roof pitch, Ionic doorway and squared stonework. Its spacious rooms hosted many events. The Sewell’s family had 16 children and all of them were educated here. Besides, over the years, the family gathered here for joy and bereavement. Many political debates, which would affect the future of Canada, were held here.

Jonathan Sewell, born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1766, moved to Quebec City in 1789. He was a sound constitutional lawyer, who learnt to speak fluent French and also was a prominent politician. He was an early advocate of the unions of both Lower and Upper Canada (Quebec and Ontario), and one of the leaders of the universally hated Chateau Clique in Quebec. He was Chief Justice during the movement of the Patriots.

The Judge Sewell died in this house in 1839.

In 1854 the government of Union of Lower and Upper Canada bought the house and employed it for offices and living quarters. Later it became one of the offices of the Department of National Defence of Canada.

Address of Jonathan Sewell House:

87 St. Louis Street
Quebec

See also:

• Old Union Hotel (Quebec’s Tourist office)
• Duke of Kent’s House