Adolphe-Basile Routhier
A Canadian judge who penned the French lyrics to 'O Canada,' a national anthem born from a poetry contest.
1839–1920 (age 81)·Canadian judge and poet·Birthday: May 8
Biography
Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier was a pillar of Quebec's legal and literary establishment in the decades following Confederation. As a judge, he served on the Superior Court of Quebec and later became its Chief Justice, known for his intellectual rigor and conservative Catholic values. His parallel career in letters, however, secured his place in national memory. In 1880, the organizing committee for the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society festivities in Quebec City commissioned a patriotic song. Calixa Lavallée was asked to compose the music, and Routhier, already a respected poet, won the contest to write the text. His French verses, beginning 'Ô Canada! Terre de nos aïeux,' were first performed on June 24, 1880. While the English version would evolve separately, Routhier's original lyricism provided the solemn and enduring French-language foundation for what became, a century later, Canada's official national anthem.
#1 When Adolphe-Basile Was Born
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Adolphe-Basile's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1839Born
1844Started school
1852Became a teenager
1855Could drive
1857Could vote
1860Turned 21
1869Turned 30
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1879Turned 40
President: Rutherford B. Hayes
1889Turned 50
Eiffel Tower opens in Paris
President: Benjamin Harrison
1899Turned 60
President: William McKinley
1909Turned 70
Robert Peary claims to reach the North Pole
President: William Howard Taft
1919Turned 80
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1920Died at 81
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
Key Achievements
- Wrote the original French lyrics for Canada's national anthem, 'O Canada,' in 1880.
- Served as Chief Justice of the Superior Court for the Quebec district from 1904 until his retirement.
- Was knighted by King George V in 1911 for his distinguished service to the law.
- Authored several volumes of poetry, literary criticism, and historical works throughout his life.
Did You Know?
The original anthem was titled 'Chant national' and was written specifically for Quebec's Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day celebration.
He was a staunch defender of the French language and Catholic values in a predominantly English-speaking Canada.
Routhier's lyrics were not officially translated; the common English version was written independently by Robert Stanley Weir in 1908.
He outlived the composer Calixa Lavallée by 36 years, seeing their collaborative work gain widespread popularity.
“O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all thy sons command.”
