History

Pierre Du Gua de Monts

            Pierre Du Gua de Monts was born in 1558 in France and died in 1628 in France.  Pierre Du Gua de Monts is famous for founding the first permanent settlement Port Royal in Acadia, which is now Canada.

            In June 1604 Pierre and his settlers entered the Baie Francaise, which is now the Bay of Fundy. They founded a colony on the St. Croix Island which was suitable and to defend from the Indians.  They spent the first winter on the island.  A few settlers surrendered to the harsh climates and diseases with the limited natural resources on the foreign island.  Many died of scurvy and other diseases.   After the loss of his colonists Pierre moved to land close to the island and started a colony Port Royal.

            Pierre was an early explorer that was given a monopoly on the fur trade by New France in 1603.  This monopoly gave Pierre the authority and power to stop any illegal traders.  In return for the monopoly given to Pierre, he became the governor and ruler of the new settlement Acadia.  Pierre would remain the governor of Acadia if he could bring 60 new colonists each year to Acadia.  Pierre was to sustain control of the area, explore and discover precious metals, gold, sliver and others for France.  The new settlement was also to evangelize to the Native peoples; France was very holy and wanted to Christianize new people that were strangers to God.  Pierre's new colony was associated with some other early explorers; Jean de Poutrincourt, Samuel de Champlain, Marc Lescarbot, Mathieu Da Costa, Louis Herbert and many more were involved.  The settlers harvested and planted crops on the new barren land.  The colonists also built a mill to grind flour.  The French traded leftover furs with the Micmaq tribe.  The new land was becoming successful but the business project wasn't.  While Pierre was trying to increase the business, merchants were becoming jealous and were protesting and undermining him back in France so the King cancelled the monopoly.

            In 1607 the monopoly was cancelled by the French king, King Henri IV and Pierre was forced to desert Port Royal.    In 1608 he decided to assist Samuel de Champlain build in Quebec for Samuel and Pierre were very close friends.  Pierre helped prove that Europeans could dwell in North America permanently and that the country was able to support agriculture.  He accomplished many amazing goals before his life sadly ended. 

            Pierre's associates and trust worthy friends were thankful for his accomplishments and for his support.

Marc Lescarbot: "De Monts, it is you whose high courage has traced the way for such a great undertaking, and for this reason, in spite of the attack of time, the leaf of your fame will grow green in an eternal spring."

Christina Z