While its boundaries changed over the decades, it was essentially made up of the eastern part of Quebec City and was largely of working class composition. It was created in 1867. It was renamed "Québec-Est" in 1966, and "Québec East" in 1996. It was abolished through redistribution 2003 into the ridings of Québec, Louis-Saint-Laurent, and Beauport.
From 1877 to 1958, the riding was represented by only three Members of Parliament (MPs): Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier (1877–1919), senior Cabinet member Ernest Lapointe (1919–1941) and Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent (1942–1958). With Laurier serving as prime minister from 1896 until 1911, and St. Laurent doing likewise from 1948 until 1957, Quebec East became one of two districts to be represented by two sitting prime ministers; the only other to date is Prince Albert.
