OBALSKI, JOSEPH (named at birth Joseph-François-Jacques-Victor),
mining engineer, civil servant, professor, and author; b. 14
Sept. 1852 in Châteaubriant, France, son of Joseph Obalski, a
road surveyor of Polish origin, and Sophie Lhénoret, from
Nantes; m. 5 July 1882 at Quebec Joséphine Gosselin (d. 1 Feb.
1934), and they had two daughters; d. 25 March 1915 in Montreal.
Probably the eldest in a family of at least six, Joseph Obalski
grew up in the eastern part of Brittany, a region known for its
iron mines and metallurgical industry. This environment may
explain why he sought a career as a mining engineer. He
graduated from the École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris
in 1877 and completed his training with courses in engineering.
Several years later he met the premier of Quebec, Joseph-Adolphe
Chapleau*, who was on holiday in France from July to September
1881. Chapleau offered him the post of provincial mining
engineer with an annual salary of $2,000 and the payment of his
travel expenses from France