High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! René Lévesque (August 24, 1922 ? November 1, 1987) was a reporter, a minister of the government of Quebec, Canada (1960?1966), the founder of the Parti Québécois political party, and 23rd Premier of Quebec (November 25, 1976 ? October 3, 1985). He was the first Quebec political leader since confederation to attempt, through a referendum, to negotiate political independence for Quebec. Lévesque was a recipient of the title Grand Officer of the French Legion of Honour. He was posthumously made a Grand Officer of the National Order of Quebec in 2008.