Jean-Joseph Girouard was a notary and political figure in Lower Canada.
Background
He was born at Quebec City in 1794, of Acadian descent, and lived with his grandfather, Jean Baillairgé, after his father"s death in 1800. When Baillairgé died in 1805, his mother became the housekeeper for a parish priest, who also tutored the children.
Career
Girouard trained as a notary, qualified to practice in 1816 and set up practice at Saint-Benoît (later Mirabel). He also served as a volunteer in the militia during the War of 1812 and was named captain in 1821. He resigned his position in the militia after a number of his friends were dismissed as militia officers because of their association with the Patriotes.
Girouard was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada for Deux-Montagnes in an 1831 by-election held after the death of Jacques Labrie and supported Louis-Joseph Papineau in the assembly.
He supported the Ninety-Two Resolutions and was reelected in 1834. In 1837, his name was on a list of rebel leaders to be arrested.
He escaped but later turned himself in after he heard that his supporters had already been arrested and was imprisoned at Montreal. He was released in July 1838 but imprisoned again following the uprisings later that year.
After his release, he retired from politics and returned to his profession as a notary.
He died at Saint-Benoît in 1855.