Antonio Barrette
A union organizer turned premier, he led Quebec for a brief but pivotal 100 days during a period of profound social change.
1899–1968 (age 69)·Premier of Quebec in 1960·Birthday: May 26·The Lost Generation
Biography
Antonio Barrette’s life was a testament to the power of rising from the shop floor to the highest office. Born in Joliette, he left school early to work as a machinist, a background that fueled his deep involvement in the labour movement. He cut his teeth as a union organizer, a role that shaped his political instincts and connected him to the everyday struggles of Quebecers. Entering provincial politics, he served for years as a cabinet minister, earning a reputation as a competent and steady administrator. His moment at the helm came unexpectedly in 1960, following the sudden death of Premier Paul Sauvé. Barrette’s premiership lasted just over three months, a caretaker tenure that ended with the election that ushered in Quebec’s Quiet Revolution. His legacy is that of a bridge figure, a man of the old order who presided, however briefly, at the dawn of a transformative new era for the province.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Antonio was born in 1899, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Antonio Was Born
The biggest hits of 1899
Antonio's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1899Born
President: William McKinley
1904Started school
New York City opens its first subway line
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1912Became a teenager
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1915Could drive
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1917Could vote
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1920Turned 21
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1929Turned 30
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1939Turned 40
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1949Turned 50
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1959Turned 60
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1968Died at 69
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
Key Achievements
- Served as the 18th Premier of Quebec, leading the province from January to September 1960.
- Held multiple cabinet portfolios, including Minister of Labour, over a long political career.
- Rose to political prominence from a background as a machinist and union organizer.
Did You Know?
His premiership is one of the shortest in Quebec history, lasting approximately 100 days.
Before politics, he worked for the Canadian National Railway.
He was the last Union Nationale premier to hold office in Quebec.
“A machinist knows the value of a part that fits and a job well done.”
