Athanase David

Athanase David
Senator for Saurel, Quebec
In office 1940–1953
Appointed by	William Lyon Mackenzie King
Preceded by	Joseph-Marcellin Wilson
Succeeded by	Marianna Beauchamp Jodoin
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec for Terrebonne
In office 1916–1936
Preceded by	Jean Prévost
Succeeded by	Hermann Barrette
In office 1939–1940
Preceded by	Hermann Barrette
Succeeded by	Hector-Joseph-Damase Perrier
Personal details
Born	Louis-Athanase David (1882-06-24)June 24, 1882 Montreal, Quebec
Died	January 26, 1953(1953-01-26) (aged 70)
Political party	Liberal

Louis-Athanase David (June 24, 1882 – January 26, 1953) was a Canadian lawyer, politician, and businessman. He is son of Laurent-Olivier David, also a Canadian journalist, lawyer, and politician, and the father of cardiologist and senator Paul David.

Born in Montreal, Athanase David received a law degree from Université Laval and was admitted to the Bar of Quebec in 1905. A partner in the law firm of Elliott & David, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec in 1916 as the Liberal Party member for the Terrebonne riding, serving until 1936. He did not run in the 1936 election, but was elected again in 1939. He resigned in February 1940 to accept an appointment as Senator in the Parliament of Canada where he served until his death in 1953.

He created the Prix Athanase-David literary prize in 1922 and in 1923 was made a member of the Legion of Honor by the government of France.

A sports fan, Athanase David was president of the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey club from 1930 to 1935. He won 3 Stanley Cups during his tenure in 1924, 1930, and 1931. In 1928 he partnered with Montreal stockbroker Ernest Savard and American baseball executive George Stallings to revive the Montreal Royals baseball franchise as part of the International League and to build Delorimier Stadium.

David was married to Antonia Nantel (known as Madame Athanase David), who was an important arts administrator and patron in Montreal. He notably helped her in establishing the Montreal Symphony Orchestra in 1934 and the Montreal Festivals in 1936. Their son, Paul David, was also a Canadian senator and a prominent cardiologist.

He was made a Knight of the French Legion of Honour in 1923, an Officer in 1925 and a Commander in 1934.

External links

• "Biography". Dictionnaire des parlementaires du Québec de 1792 à nos jours (in French). National Assembly of Quebec.
• Athanase David – Parliament of Canada biography