Sulpician priest and historian Jean-Léon-Olivier Maurault, born in Sorel, Québec, was ordained in 1910, then finished his studies at the Institut Catholique de Paris from 1911 to 1913. Returning to Montréal, he became vicar of the parish of St. Jacques until 1926 then curé of the prestigious parish of Notre Dame from 1926 to 1929; he served as Superior of the Externat de St. Sulpice (now Collège André Grasset from 1929 to 1934. He was rector of the Université de Montréal from 1934 to 1955. Throughout his career he wrote numerous scholarly books and articles on the topics of art history and the religious history of Canada. In 1943 he was elected president of the Société Royale du Canada.