References
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Full Biography: Charles Devlin | Canada | VIEW SOURCE |
Charles Devlin of Meera, Carrick-on-Shannon was the son of Catherine Mullaney and Owen Devlin Esq. who was an extensive farmer and merchant.
In 1851, at the age of 23, Charles Devlin left Roscommon for Canada and settled in the village of Aylmer (now part of the city of Gatineau, Quebec). At the north-west corner of Charles and Bancroft Streets, he established a general store that remained in operation for 60 years until destroyed by fire in 1911. His father and borthers also emigrated.
He married Mary Ellen Rooney and had ten children: Owen Bernard, Mary Catherine, Charles Ramsay, James Joseph, Mary Ann Aloisa , Frederick John, Louise Harriet, Napoleon, Joseph Augustin and Emmanuel Berthmans. His sons distinguished themselves in professional careers:
Charles Ramsay Devlin was Minister of Colonization at the Legislative Assembly of Quebec in the cabinet Gouin; Emmanuel Devlin, a lawyer, became a member of Wright County at the federal level; Joseph Devlin became a lawyer; Owen Bernard Devlin became a lawyer and Jesuit priest. Frederick Devlin became a dentist, and Napoleon Devlin, a city councilor (1923 and 1924) and managed the Devlin General Store.
In 1870, Charles Devlin built a brick house at the northeast intersection of Charles and Parker Streets as his family home. This Georgian-inspired buidling, Maison Charles-Devlin (49, rue Symmes, Gatineau, Quebec, J9H) is a designated historic monument.
Charles Devlin gave 24 years of his life to municipal politics. From 1860-64, he was elected advisor for two terms of office. He also served four terms as councilor, from 1866 to 1873. He served as Mayor of Aylmer from 1873 to 1876 and again from 1890 to 1891. Between those periods he resumed his seat as councilor (1876 to 1877), as first-magistrate (1877 to 1878), as adviser (1882 to 1890). He is credited with implementing a program to encourage the establishment of new industries in the municipality. Aylmer passed from village to city status. By 1891 Aylmer had been upgraded to the status of a city.
He died on March 9, 1916, at the age of 89 years. He is buried in the Saint-Paul cemetery.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 19th Sep 1827 | |
| Date of Death | 9th Mar 1916 | |
| Associated Building (s) | Meera House | |
| Mother (First Name/s and Maiden) | Catherine Mullaney | |
| Father (First Name/s and Surname) | Owen Devlin Esq. aka Eugene Devlin of Meera | |
| Names of Siblings | Bernard Devlin QC (1824-88) | Elizabeth Devlin b. 1825 | John Joseph Devlin MD b. 1830 | Mary Devlin b. 1834 | Eugene Devlin aka Owen Joseph Devlin b. 1836 | Mark Devlin MD b.1839 | |
| Townland born | Meera, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Roscommon (RC Parish of Croghan) | |
