Background
He was the son of François Baillairgé and the grandson of Jean Baillairgé, both men being termed architects under the definition of the time.
He was the son of François Baillairgé and the grandson of Jean Baillairgé, both men being termed architects under the definition of the time.
The family had been based in Quebec since 1741 and Thomas attended English school and then the Petit Séminaire de Québec.
During the latter time, he would also have begun to learn wood carving and architecture. By 1815, Thomas had begun his career in earnest, and from then until 1848, he designed numerous buildings. Churches, houses and other projects.
During this period he trained a number of students.
He also did wood carving and some painting. Through his work and that of people he trained, his influence carried through the first two decades of the twentieth century.