Editing Wilfrid Laurier (section)

=== Political beginnings ===

In September 1861, Laurier began studying law at [[McGill University]]. There, he met [[Zoé Lafontaine]], who would later become his wife. Laurier also discovered that he had chronic [[bronchitis]], an illness that would stick with him for the rest of his life. At McGill, Laurier joined the {{langr|fr|[[Parti rouge]]}}, or Red Party, which was a [[centre-left politics|centre-left]] political party that contested elections in Canada East. In 1864, Laurier graduated from McGill. Laurier continued being active within the {{langr|fr|Parti rouge}}, and from May 1864 to fall 1866, was vice president of the {{langr|fr|[[Institut canadien de Montréal]]}}, a literary society with ties to the Rouge. In August 1864, Laurier joined the Liberals of Lower Canada, an anti-[[Canadian Confederation|Confederation]] group composed of both moderates and radicals. The group argued that Confederation would give too much power to the central, or federal government, and the group believed that Confederation would lead to discrimination towards French Canadians.<ref name="WLbio" /><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]]|title=Wilfrid Laurier|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-wilfrid-laurier|access-date=September 7, 2019}}</ref>
[[File:Portrait of Sir Wilfrid Laurier in his student days, circa 1865 in the formatof a carte-de-visite (cropped).jpg|250px|thumb|right|Laurier in his student days]]
Laurier then practised law in [[Montreal]], though he initially struggled as a lawyer. He opened his first practice on October 27, 1864, but closed it within a month. He established his second office, but that closed within three months, due to a lack of clients. In March 1865, nearly bankrupt, Laurier established his third law firm, partnering with Médéric Lanctot, a lawyer and journalist who staunchly opposed Confederation. The two experienced some success, but in late 1866, Laurier was invited by fellow Rouge [[Antoine-Aimé Dorion]] to replace his recently deceased brother to became editor and run a newspaper, {{lang|fr|Le Défricheur}}.<ref name="WLbio" />

Laurier moved to [[Victoriaville]] and began writing and controlling the newspaper from January 1, 1867. Laurier saw this as an opportunity to express his strong anti-Confederation views; in one instance he wrote, "Confederation is the second stage on the road to ‘anglification’ mapped out by [[John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham|Lord Durham]]...We are being handed over to the English majority...[We must] use whatever influence we have left to demand and obtain a free and separate government." On March 21, {{lang|fr|Le Défricheur}} was forced to shut down, as a result of financial issues and opposition from the local [[clergy]]. On July 1, Confederation was officially proclaimed and recognized, a defeat for Laurier.<ref name="WLbio" />

Laurier decided to remain in Victoriaville. He slowly became well known across the town with a population of 730, and was even elected mayor not so long after he settled. In addition, he established a law practice which would span for three decades and have four different partners. He would make some money, but not enough to consider himself wealthy. During his period in Victoriaville, Laurier opted to accept Confederation and identify himself as a moderate liberal, as opposed to a radical liberal.<ref name="WLbio" /> 

In 1869, while living in Victoriaville, Laurier was appointed an ensign in the Arthabaskaville Infantry Company.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Blatherwick|first1=John|title=PRIME MINISTERS OF CANADA THEIR MILITARY CONNECTIONS, HONOURS and MEDALS |url=https://www.blatherwick.net/documents/Prime%20Ministers%20of%20Canada/40%20-%20Prime%20Ministers%20of%20Canada%20Military.pdf|website=National Defence Historical Department|access-date= April 4, 2023|language=en}}</ref> He was promoted to lieutenant in 1870, and from May to June was on active service at [[Saint-Hyacinthe]] during the second [[Fenian Raids|Fenian Raid]]. He continued to serve in the company until 1878, and in 1899 he was awarded the [[Canada General Service Medal]] for his service in 1870.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WgMOAAAAQAAJ&dq=wilfred+laurier+arthabaska+infantry+company&pg=RA9-PA19 |title=Canadian Army List: Independent Companies |last=Canadian Minister of Militia |date=1877 |website=Google Books |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=April 4, 2023 |quote=}}</ref>