Plaques and memorials

The commemorative plaques and monuments on the Cathedral’s walls offer a glimpse into a fascinating past. A reminder of a time when this French-speaking city was a part of the British Empire. many of which commemorate British military officers who served in Quebec and became parishioners. After American independence, Quebec City became the capital of British North America for nearly 90 years, making it a key posting for ambitious British officers and government officials.

If you go forward in this section. We have compiled a selection of references and additional information on some of the most notable and historically significant plaques and monuments found here.

Above the Royal Pew there is a monument honors Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond, the first Governor General to die in the colony. Unlike others who returned to England when ill or retiring, his sudden death from rabies after a fox bite made that impossible, leading to his burial here.

His wife, Lady Lennox, was also influential. Before Quebec, the couple was in Brussels, where she organized the famous Waterloo Ball, attended by General Wellington before his victory over Napoleon. Celebrated in English literature, including a poem by Lord Byron, this grand event cemented their status as a historical “power couple.”

Placed high above the South gallery wall of the Cathedral.

Thomas Dunn (1729–1818) was a prominent figure in early Quebec history — a prosperous businessman, seigneur, judge, and colonial administrator. His legacy endures not only through his public service but also in several historic sites bearing his name, such as the former Maison Dunn on rue Saint-Louis (once Quebec City's City Hall), the Thomas Dunn Pub in the Old Port, and the charming Anglican chapel of St. Mary in Ste-Pétronille on Île d'Orléans, still maintained by the Dunn family. His monument, sculpted in London and worthy of a place in Westminster Abbey, is a striking yet often-overlooked work of art.  Its quiet presence belies the importance of the man it commemorates.

This monument is located to the South of the main door.

Bishop Matthews (1907 – 1991) served as the ninth Bishop of Quebec from 1971 to 1977. He was married to Eileen Matthews, with whom he had five children. His early ministry included curacies in Viking and Edson, followed by incumbencies in Coaticook and Lake St. John. He held the position of Archdeacon of Gaspé and than later became the Archdeacon of St. Francis until his elevation to the episcopate in 1971. ​