Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve
| Paul de Chomedey, sieur de Maisonneuve | |
|---|---|
Maisonneuve Monument
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| Born |
February 15, 1612 Neuville-sur-Vannes (Champagne, France) |
| Died | September 9, 1676 (aged 64) Paris, France |
| Allegiance | France |
| Other work | the founder of Ville-Marie (a religious mission, in what is now present day Montreal) military officer |
Paul de Chomedey, sieur de Maisonneuve (February 15, 1612 – September 9, 1676) was a French military officer and the founder of Montreal in New France.
Maisonneuve was born into the aristocracy in Neuville-sur-Vannes in Champagne, France. He was the son of Louis de Chomedey, seigneur of Chavane, Germenoy-en-Brie, and his second wife Marie de Thomelin, the daughter of Jean de Thomelin, a king’s counsellor and a treasurer of France in the generality of Champagne, and of Ambroise d’Aulquoy.
Paul de Chomedey grew up in the manor-house at Neuville-sur-Vanne, not far from the Maisonneuve (Vienne) Maisonneuve fief, which his father acquired in 1614. He had two sisters and one brother. He began his military career at the age of 13 in Holland, where he also learned to play the lute.
He had a successful career in which he was noted for his ability and his honesty.
At the age of 30, he was hired by Jérome le Royer de la Dauversiere, who was head of the Société Notre-Dame de Montréal. Royer de la Dauversiere had a vision that inspired him to build a society mission on Montreal Island in New France. Maisonneuve was hired to lead the colonists and ensure their safety in the new land.
In 1642 Ville-Marie was founded on the southern shore of Montreal island, where a chapel and a small settlement were built. A hospital, under the command of Jeanne Mance, was also established. Maisonneuve was the first governor of Montreal.
The settlers maintained peaceful relations with the Algonquin people, one of the indigenous tribes of the area. 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. A cross has been maintained there to the current day.
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