Article

Joseph-Clovis-Kemner Laflamme

Published Online January 10, 2008

Last Edited December 15, 2013

Joseph-Clovis-Kemner Laflamme, priest, educator, scientist (b at St-Anselme, Canada E 18 Sept 1849; d at Québec C 6 July 1910). After studying at the SÉMINAIRE DE QUÉBEC and later spending periods at Harvard and in Europe, Laflamme became professor of geology and mineralogy at Laval in 1870.

Laflamme, Joseph-Clovis-Kemner

Joseph-Clovis-Kemner Laflamme, priest, educator, scientist (b at St-Anselme, Canada E 18 Sept 1849; d at Québec C 6 July 1910). After studying at the SÉMINAIRE DE QUÉBEC and later spending periods at Harvard and in Europe, Laflamme became professor of geology and mineralogy at Laval in 1870. He also taught physics 1875-93. From 1880 on, he was given several assignments to conduct explorations in Québec on behalf of the GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Despite his contributions in this field, he is better known for his activities in education and in the dissemination of scientific knowledge. A founding member of the Royal Society of Canada, he became its president in 1891. In 1893 he was appointed rector of Laval. Through his lectures, science manuals and numerous newspaper articles, Laflamme made French Canada aware of the major scientific discoveries of his era, particularly the new uses of electricity, the telephone and X rays. At the end of his life he was unanimously recognized as the leading scholar of French Canada.