 He was born on September 3, 1935 in Louiseville, Quebec and was a lawyer.Gauthier ran as a Progressive Conservative candidate in the federal district of Trois-Rivières in 1968, but lost against Liberal incumbent Joseph-Alfred Mongrain.He ran as a Union Nationale candidate in the district of Trois-Rivières in a 1969 by-election, following the resignation of Yves Gabias and won.