Background
The son of Colonel Protaïs d'Odet d'Orsonnens and Louise-Sophie Richer, he was born in Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan, Lower Canada, and was educated at L'Assomption and at the Jesuit college in Montreal.
The son of Colonel Protaïs d'Odet d'Orsonnens and Louise-Sophie Richer, he was born in Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan, Lower Canada, and was educated at L'Assomption and at the Jesuit college in Montreal.
He served as mayor of Hull from 1889 to 1890. His name also appears as Jean-Éraste and Jean Protais Eraste. He went on to study law and was licensed as a notary at the age of 22.
D'Orsonnens practised his profession in Montreal, Warwick and Hull. D'Orsonnens was also a commissioner of the Superior Court of Quebec and chair of the Hull school board. Around the age of 50, he retired from practice as a notary to pursue his developing business.
He served on Hull municipal council from 1877 to 1886 and from 1890 to 1891. He published
Felluna, la vierge iroquoise. Une épluchette de blé-d'inde.
Une résurrection (1856) which is described as the first collection of stories published in Lower Canada
Une apparition épisode de l'emigration irlandaise au Canada (1860)
Le moteur centripète (1899)
Rue D'Orsonnens in Gatineau was named in his honour.
