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.