Jean Talon
| Jean Talon | |
|---|---|
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| Born |
January 8, 1626 Châlons-en-Champagne |
| Died | November 23, 1694 (aged 68) France |
| Resting place | Châlons-sur-Marne |
| Nationality | French |
| Other names | Count d'Orsainville |
| Citizenship | France |
| Occupation | Intendant of New France |
| Years active | 5 |
| Employer | King Louis XIV |
| Parent(s) | Philippe Talon Anne de Bury |
Jean Talon, Count d'Orsainville (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ talɔ̃]; January 8, 1626 – November 23, 1694) was the first Intendant of New France. Talon was appointed by King Louis XIV and his minister, Jean-Baptiste Colbert to serve as the Intendant of Justice, Public Order and Finances in Canada, Acadia and Newfoundland for two terms: 1665 to 1668 and 1670 to 1672.
Talon attempted to change the economic base of the colony from fur-trading to agriculture, but found this could not be accomplished without a larger population. Talon arranged for settlers to come to New France, including over 800 women known as the filles du roi – the king's daughters. These were young orphans that came to New France to marry men present there. He encouraged population growth through marriage grants and baby bonuses, which was financial compensation given to a couple when they married, and again when they had children.
Talon tried to diversify the economy of New France by introducing new crops such as flax and hops for making beer, by starting a shipyard and lumber industry, and by encouraging mining. (Talon started the first commercial brewery in Canada, La Brasseries due Roy [sic] in Québec City in 1668.) Talon also worked to increase the population, agricultural production, and private sector of the burgeoning colony.
Prior to Jean Talon's arrival to the French colony in 1665, the colony, founded by Samuel de Champlain and situated along St. Lawrence River, was in a state of weakness and destitution despite its existence for more than half a century. Its failure in progress had been due to several key factors, including ill governance of the colony by trading companies, forgetfulness on the part of France, and the horrors caused by the wars between the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat clans.
The progress of the colony had been stifled by trading companies,because the companies valued money and profits rather than the survival of the colony, which did not really matter because most of the residents were coureur des bois and could fend for themselves.
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