Joseph-Octave Arsenault (August 5, 1828 – December 14, 1897) was a

Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

politician who was the first

Acadian The Acadians (; , ) are an ethnic group descended from the French who settled in the New France colony of Acadia during the 17th and 18th centuries. Today, most descendants of Acadians live in either the Northern American region of Acadia, ...

from

Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island is an island Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. While it is the smallest province by land area and population, it is the most densely populated. The island has several nicknames: "Garden of the Gulf", ...

to be named to the

Senate of Canada The Senate of Canada () is the upper house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Monarchy of Canada#Parliament (King-in-Parliament), Crown and the House of Commons of Canada, House of Commons, they compose the Bicameralism, bicameral le ...

. Born in

Cascumpec, Prince Edward Island Cascumpec is an unincorporated settlement in Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island is an island Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. While it is the smallest province by land area and population, it is the most dens ...

, the son of Mélème Arsenault and Bibienne Poirier, he was a teacher, and later the owner of several businesses, including two general stores and a fish company. In 1867, he was elected to the

Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island The Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island () together with the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island, lieutenant governor of Prince Edward Island form the General Assembly of Prince Edward Island. The Legislative Assembly meets at ...

for the riding of 3rd Prince and served for 28 years. In 1895, he was appointed to the Senate representing the

senatorial division Canadian Senate divisions refers to two aspects of the Senate of Canada. First, it refers to the division of Canada into four regional Senate divisions of 24 senators each, as set out in section 22 of the Constitution Act, 1867.The Constitution Ac ...

of Prince Edward Island. He served until his death in Abram-Village in 1897. In 1861, he married Gertrude Gaudet. They had nine children. His son

Aubin-Edmond Arsenault Aubin-Edmond Arsenault (28 July 1870 – 29 April 1968) was a Prince Edward Island politician. He was the 13th premier of Prince Edward Island from 1917 to 1919. Born in Egmont Bay, Prince County, Prince Edward Island, Arsenault's family ...

was

Premier of Prince Edward Island The premier of Prince Edward Island is the first minister and head of government for the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. The current premier of Prince Edward Island is Rob Lantz, from the Progressive Conservative Party. See also ...

and his son

Joseph-Félix Arsenault Joseph-Félix "Joe-Félix" Arsenault (October 16, 1865 – February 27, 1947) was a merchant and political figure in Prince Edward Island, Canada. He represented 3rd Prince in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island from 1897 to 19 ...

served in the provincial assembly. Arsenault played an important role in organizing the first two Acadian national conventions which were held in

Memramcook, New Brunswick Memramcook, sometimes also spelled Memramcouke or Memramkouke, is a village in Westmorland County, New Brunswick, Canada. Located in south-eastern New Brunswick, the community is predominantly people of Acadian descent who speak the Chiac de ...

in 1881 and Miscouche, Prince Edward Island in 1884.

External links

Biography at the ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online''
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Arsenault, Joseph-Octave 1828 births 1897 deaths Colony of Prince Edward Island people Politicians from Prince County, Prince Edward Island Politicians of Acadian descent Canadian senators from Prince Edward Island Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942) senators Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island MLAs 19th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island 19th-century members of the Senate of Canada