Azellus Denis Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Hon.
Azellus Denis
Office:Senator for La Salle, Quebec
Appointed:Lester B. Pearson
Predecessor:Mark Robert Drouin
Successor:Marcel Prud'homme
Term Start:February 3, 1964
Term End:September 4, 1991
Constituency Mp2:St. Denis
Parliament2:Canadian
Predecessor2:Joseph-Arthur Denis
Successor2:Marcel Prud'homme
Term Start2:1935
Term End2:1964
Birth Date:26 March 1907
Birth Place:Saint-Norbert, Quebec, Canada
Resting Place:Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery
Spouse:Émérencienne Fleury-Bissonnette
Party:Liberal
Relations:Joseph-Arthur Denis, brother
Cabinet:Postmaster General (1963-1964)

Azellus Denis, (March 26, 1907  - September 4, 1991) was a Canadian politician who served in the Parliament of Canada as a Member of Parliament and Senator for the longest period of time, 55 years, 10 months and 20 days.

Born in Saint-Norbert, Quebec, the son of Arsène Denis and Georgiana Laporte, he was educated in Saint-Norbert, Joliette and at the Université de Montréal. Denis practised law in Montreal. In 1945, he married Émérencienne Fleury-Bissonnette.[1]

He was first elected as a Liberal Member of Parliament in the riding of St. Denis in 1935. His brother Arthur had represented the St. Denis riding in the House of Commons until his death in 1934. Denis was re-elected in 1940, 1945, 1949, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1962, and 1963. He was the Postmaster General from 1963 until the Post Office patronage scandal of 1964. In the midst of the scandal, he was appointed to the Senate at the recommendation of Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson and served until his death in 1991.

He was a reservist in the 2nd Battalion (Reserve) Châteauguay Regiment.

After his death in 1991, he was entombed at the Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery in Montreal.[2] Parc Azellus-Denis in Montreal is named in his honour.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Johnson, J.K. . The Canadian Directory of Parliament 1867-1967 . 1968 . Public Archives of Canada.
  2. Book: Répertoire des personnages inhumés au cimetière ayant marqué l'histoire de notre société. Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery. Montreal. fr.