User:Queen of Hearts/Drafts/Charles Alavoine

For the unrelated fictional doctor, see Act of Passion.

Charles Alavoine (c. 1695 – 8 July 1764) was a French surgeon who was active in the French territory of Canada and the following British Province of Quebec.

Early life

Alavoine was born circa 1695 in France to Charles Alavoine, a merchant, and Marie-Thérèse Macard. His father settled in Montreal, where Alavoine would learn basic surgery. He married Marie-Anne Lefebvre (dit Laciseraye) on 27 April 1722, moving to Champlain, a place near Trois-Rivières, in May of the same year. Their first child was baptized 24 May 1723 in Champlain, their second 12 August 1724 in Montreal, and their third 4 November 1725 in Trois-Rivières, where they ultimately settled.

Career

Alavoine became a surgeon at a hôtel-Dieu and surgeon-major for a military garrison, receiving a salary of 75 livres. Despite a petition from governor of New France Charles de la Boische, Marquis de Beauharnois, and intendant Gilles Hocquart to raise his salary to 300 livres, naval minister Jean Frédéric Phélypeaux, Count of Maurepas, only gave Alavoine a 200 livre salary. This forced him to have to rely on visitors to his office. He was the only surgeon in Trois-Rivières until François-Joseph Rembaud began a practice in 1748.

Alavoine received a warrant to become a royal surgeon in 1758, although he is believed to have never received it due to the Seven Years' War. After the British seized Canada, Alavoine contemplated returning to France, but he stayed in Canada due to petitions from the people of Trois-Rivières, being the only French doctor in the city, and believing that France would regain control. He did not receive a salary while under British control.

Personal life

Alavoine had 19 children. He died 8 July 1764 in Trois-Rivières.