Calixa Lavallee

Calixa Lavallée, (1842 - 1891) was the composer of O Canada. He was born at Vercheres Quebec. He was a soldier in the American Civil War. He went to the U.S. in 1857 and lived in Rhode Island where he enlisted in the Northern army. During and after the war he moved between Canada and the United States and developed a career in music. He died in Boston. His remains were brought to Montreal in 1933.