RACINE, Antoine, Canadian R. C. bishop, born in St. Ambrose, near Quebec, 26 January, 1822. His ancestors came to Canada in 1638. One of them was Abraham Martin, who gave his name to the Plains of Abraham. Antoine received his early education from an uncle, who was pastor of a neighboring parish, and in 1834 entered the Petit seminaire of Quebec. He afterward studied theology in the Grand seminaire, and was ordained priest on 12 September, 1844, held various charges, took much interest in colonization, and put forward his views, with others, in a journal that he founded and called the "Canadien emigrant." He was transferred to the Church of St. John in Quebec in 1853. On 1 September, 1874, he was nominated first bishop of the newly created diocese of Sherbrooke, and he was consecrated by Archbishop Taschereau on 18 October following. He took possession of his see two days afterward, and at once proceeded to erect an ecclesiastical college in his episcopal city, which he opened on 30 August, 1875, and dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo. This has become a flourishing institution under his patronage. Bishop Racine has also established several other religious, charitable, and educational institutions. His diocese contains 7 convents, a hospital, an asylum, 140 schools, 2 colleges, 62 priests, and a Roman Catholic population of more than 47,000.