Jean-François Hubert
Jean-François Hubert (February 23, 1739 – October 17, 1797) was the bishop of Quebec from 1788 to 1797. He trained at the Sulpician seminary in Montreal and began his career as secretary to bishops Pontbriand and later Briand. He was born in Quebec City to Jacques-François Hubert and Marie-Louise Maranda, and studied at the Petit Séminaire and Grand Séminaire.
During the 1759 British siege, Hubert and other seminarians moved to Montreal. He returned to work for Briand after Briand was consecrated bishop in Paris in 1766. Hubert held various roles at the seminary in Quebec, becoming director of the Petit Séminaire in 1765, director (and then bursar) of the Grand Séminaire, and eventually Superior.
In 1775, during the American siege of Quebec, he helped defend the city and cared for the wounded and prisoners. He pursued missionary work and in 1778 left the seminary to serve as Briand’s envoy to the Illinois mission, then became priest at Sainte-Famille on Île d’Orléans and vicar general. In 1781 he was sent to Notre-Dame-de l’Assomption near Detroit for four years.
After Briand resigned, Hubert was chosen as coadjutor by Briand’s successor, Louis-Philippe Mariauchau d’Esgly, and was consecrated bishop in 1786. When d’Esgly died in 1788, Hubert became the Bishop of Quebec.
Hubert faced tension with the pro-British Bailly de Messein, whom the governor suggested as coadjutor, but he was supported by the clergy and reconciled with Bailly before Bailly’s death in 1794. He opposed attempts to split the diocese and a plan to fund a mixed Royal Institution with the Jesuit estate. He also welcomed exiled French priests and supported recruiting Irish priests for Halifax to meet shortages.
As his health declined, he resigned in September 1797 and died the following month in Quebec City. He was succeeded by Pierre Denaut.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 16:26 (CET).