Quick Facts
GeminiBiography
Antonio J. Barrette (May 26, 1899 – December 15, 1968) was a Quebec politician born in Joliette, Quebec, Canada.
Member of the legislature
Barrette ran as a Conservative candidate in the provincial district of Joliette in the 1935 election but lost. He was elected as a Union Nationale candidate in the 1936 election and was re-elected in the 1939, 1944, 1948, 1952 against Liberal Leader Georges-Émile Lapalme, 1956 and 1960 elections.
Cabinet Member
He served as Minister of Labour in the Cabinets of Maurice Duplessis and Paul Sauvé from August 30, 1944 to January 8, 1960.
Premier of Quebec
Following Sauvé's death, Barrette succeeded him as leader of the Union Nationale and Premier of Quebec on January 8, 1960. He was the 18th Premier of Quebec, but held office for only six months until the June 1960 election which he lost to Jean Lesage and the Quebec Liberal Party.
Retirement
He resigned as both Leader of the Union Nationale and member of the National Assembly on September 15, 1960, and later served as Canadian ambassador to Greece from April 4, 1963 to July 12, 1966. He died in 1968 in Montreal.
Elections as party leader
He lost the 1960 election to Jean Lesage.