Lafontaine, Louis Hyppolyte (1807–1864)

Canadian politician. He formed two governments with Robert Baldwin, 1842–43 and 1848–51, and held the position of attorney general for Lower Canada. He introduced the Rebellion Losses Bill 1848, which finally established responsible government in Canada. He was chief justice of Lower Canada 1853–64.

Lafontaine was born in Lower Canada and educated in Montréal. He trained as a barrister, and in 1830 became a member of the Legislative Assembly and a moderate supporter of Louis Papineau. He opposed the union of Upper and Lower Canada 1841.