Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve

Paul Chomedey, sieur de Maisonneuve (1612-1676) was a French military officer and the founder of Montreal.

He was born into the aristocracy in Neuville-sur-Vanne in Champagne, France. He joined the military at the age of thirteen and had a successful career where he was noted for his ability and his piety. He was hired by Jérome le Royer de la Dauversiere , a Jesuit who was head of the Société de Notre Dame de Montréal . Based on a vision ha be Royer de la Dauversiere the society was attempting to build a mission on the island of Montreal in New France. Maisonneuve was hired to lead the colonists and ensure their security.

In 1641 he left from La Rochelle and after a difficult crossing of the Atlantic arrived in Quebec City and spent the winter there. There the governor attempted to dissuade the missionaries and Maisonneuve warning them of the danger of a settlement in the heart of Iroquois territory. Maisonneuve scoffed at the dangers and the next May he and the colonists left for the island.

There they founded Ville-Marie and building, a chapel, and a small settlement. A hospital under the command of Jeanne Mance was also established. They maintained peaceful relations with the Algonquins and the first year of the colony's existence was peaceful. In 1643 a flood threatened the city, Maisonneuve prayed to the Virgin Mary to stop the inundation and when it abated he erected a cross atop Mount Royal, and a cross remains there to this day.

In 1643 the Iroquois discovered the settlement and a long conflict erupted between the French and the Natives that saw the colony severely threatened. Maisonneuve commanded its defence, using his military training. In 1644 he was almost killed when a group of thirty Montrealers were surrounded by over two hundred Iroquois and Maisonneuve barely managed to make it back to the safety of the fort.

In 1645 Maisonneuve received news that his father had died and he returned to France. While there he was offered the position of governor of New France, but turned it down waiting to continue his leadership of Ville-Marie. Maisonneuve returned to Montreal in 1647 and the wars with the Iroquois continued. Over time the colony grew in size and eventually was large enough to be secure from the Iroquois threat.

In control of the colony was taken from the missionary society and taken up by the crown in 1663. After twenty-four years at the head of the colony Maisonneuve was recalled to France in 1665. Settling in Paris he died in relative obscurity in 1676.

See French colonization of the Americas.