Paul de Chomedey, sieur de Maisonneuve

February 15^th, 1612 - September 9^th, 1676

Founder of the city of Montréal from France

Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve is deemed to have been the founder of Montréal.  He was chosen by the Société Notre-Dame de Montréal to found a missionary colony on the island of Montréal. The expedition, that included Jeanne Mance, left La Rochelle on May 9, 1641, and arrived in Québec towards the end of the year. Maisonneuve started building Ville-Marie in 1642, and in less than one year had constructed a fort for defence, a hospital, a chapel, and dwellings for the 70 or so settlers. He was a skilful organizer and an untiring defender of the colony, more especially against the constant attacks of the Iroquois. However, he was not always appreciated by the Governors General and was recalled to France in September 1665, where he spent the rest of his life in seclusion in Paris.