DESJARDINS, T. C. Alphonse, Canadian journalist, born in Terrebonne, province of Quebec, 6 May 1841. He was educated at Masson College and at Nicolet seminary, was admitted to the bar in 1862, and practiced in Montreal until 1868, when he abandoned law for journalism, and became one of the editors of "L'Ordre." In 1872 he was appointed editor and one of the directors of "Le nouveau monde," retaining this connection for four years. In 1882 he was elected president of Le credit foncier du bas Canada, in 1883 director of the Richelieu and Ontario Navigation Company, and in 1885 vice president of the Montreal and Western Railway Company. He took an active part in organizing the Canadian papal zouave contingent, which went to assist the pope in 1868, and in 1872 was created a knight of the order of Pius IX., in recognition of this and other services to the Church. He was one of the authors of the "Programme Catholique " (1871), proposed as a basis upon which the opposing sections of the conservative party might agree. He was first returned to the Dominion parliament for Hochelaga, province of Quebec, in 1874, was reelected in 1878, and by acclamation in 1882.