Fort Saint-Jean (Quebec) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Saint-Jean (Québec) |
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| Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada | |
Fort Saint-Jean on Richelieu River in Quebec around 1748
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| Coordinates | 45°17′46″N 73°15′7″W / 45.29611°N 73.25194°W |
| Type | Fort |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | France; United Kingdom; Continental Army; Canada |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1666 to 1775 |
| In use | 1666 to present day |
| Battles/wars | Siege of Fort Saint-Jean |
| Official name: Fort Saint-Jean National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 1923 |
Fort Saint-Jean is a historic fort located in Quebec, Canada. It sits right on the Richelieu River. This fort was first built in 1666 by French soldiers. They were part of the Carignan-Salières Regiment. They came to New France (what Canada was called then) to help the young colony.
Fort Saint-Jean was one of several forts built along the Richelieu River. Over many years, it was destroyed and rebuilt several times. However, it has been used almost non-stop for a very long time. Only Quebec City has been a military site for longer in Canada. Today, Fort Saint-Jean is a National Historic Site of Canada. It is also home to the Royal Military College Saint-Jean. The fort has been continuously used since 1748. The city of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu grew up around it. Fort Saint-Jean played a very important role in defending British Canada during the American invasion of 1775.
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History of Fort Saint-Jean
Building the First Fort (1666)
In 1663, the French King Louis XIV decided to take direct control of his colony, New France. Before this, rich merchant groups had managed it. The Iroquois people often attacked New France. They also tried to take hunting lands from France's allies. So, King Louis XIV sent the entire Carignan-Salières Regiment to New France.
Their job was to build a series of forts along the Richelieu River and Lake Champlain. This area later became known as the "Forts Valley." The soldiers also led an attack against the Iroquois. The first Fort Saint-Jean was built in 1666 for this purpose. It was a small, square fort made of wooden fences called palisades. It had four corner towers, called bastions.
The fort was built just after the Chambly rapids. This was a very important spot for carrying boats and goods over land. The French attack on Iroquois land was very successful. A peace treaty was signed in 1667. After several peaceful years, the colony's Governor decided to abandon some forts in 1672. Fort Saint-Jean was one of them. But because of its great location, it was later rebuilt, unlike other forts.
The Second Fort (1748)
A second French Fort Saint-Jean was built in 1748. This was because of growing tensions between France and England. These tensions were part of the War of the Austrian Succession. This new fort was 200 feet by 200 feet. It also had four bastions, with two made of stone.
This fort was a key link between Montreal and Fort St. Frédéric. Fort St. Frédéric was located south of Lake Champlain. A road connected Fort Saint-Jean to La Prairie. This made communication between Montreal and Fort St. Frédéric much faster. People sometimes called the second Fort Saint-Jean "Fort aux Maringouins," which means "Mosquitoes Fort." This was because the area was quite swampy.
French soldiers destroyed this fort in 1760 during the French and Indian War. There were not enough men left to defend it. A large British army was coming up the Richelieu River to take Montreal. The French decided to leave the fort. Before they left, they set it on fire. This was so the British could not use it. The stone parts of the fort that survived the fire were later used by British troops.
British Fort and American Invasion (1775)
In 1775, the British built a third fort on the same site. This was because of dangers from the Thirteen Colonies to the south. A year before the American colonies declared independence, two small armies of rebels invaded the Province of Quebec. They wanted to defeat the British in Canada. They also hoped Canadians would join them against British rule.
Fort Saint-Jean was very important in defending Quebec. It was the main defense for Montreal against General Richard Montgomery's army. Montgomery planned to use the Richelieu River to reach Montreal, then march to Quebec City. The soldiers at Fort Saint-Jean fought bravely against the Americans. They held out for 45 days during a siege before giving up.
The siege of Fort Saint-Jean greatly weakened the American attack. Montgomery's group arrived at Quebec City in early December instead of mid-October. Only about 300 of his 2,000 men actually reached Quebec City. Bad weather and tired troops meant the Americans failed to take Quebec City on December 31, 1775. British reinforcements arrived from England the next spring. The Americans then left and burned the forts they had taken, including Fort Saint-Jean.
But the British feared another American invasion. So, they rebuilt a stronger fort in 1776. They added new walls and defenses. They also built an important shipyard in Saint-Jean. Here, they put together shallow-draft boats. These boats were needed to follow the Americans on Lake Champlain. These boats soon fought in the Battle of Valcour Island.
Fort Saint-Jean in the 1800s
Fort Saint-Jean became less important after the American War of Independence ended in 1783. It was only used as a stopping point during the second American invasion in 1812–1814. However, the Patriot Revolt in 1837–1838 convinced the British to strengthen the fort again. New buildings were added. Some of these buildings, built in 1839 by the Royal Engineers, are still standing and used today.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the fort was mainly a training school. Groups like The Royal Canadian Regiment and the Royal Canadian Dragoons trained there. During the First World War, the Royal 22e Régiment (known as the Vandoos) was formed and trained at Fort Saint-Jean. They were then sent to Europe. After the war, the 22nd battalion became the first official French-speaking Canadian regiment.
Royal Military College Saint-Jean (CMR) Years
In 1952, the Royal Military College Saint-Jean was created. Its goal was to help more French-speaking Canadians become officers in the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Canadian Air Force. This made it Canada's first bilingual military college. At first, only first- and second-year courses were offered. Cadets had to finish their studies at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) in Kingston, Ontario.
Over time, the college began offering third- and fourth-year courses. In 1985, it could grant its own degrees. In 1995, the CMR closed due to budget cuts. Classes were moved to RMC Kingston. To keep the CMR site in good condition, a non-profit group called the Corporation du fort Saint-Jean was created. The "Campus du Fort Saint-Jean" then became a place for businesses and the public.
The Corporation du Fort Saint-Jean rented out some of its school buildings. For example, the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM) used them for local programs. Other facilities were rented for events like banquets and weddings. The House of Commons' Language School also moved into the Massey Building. Many federal politicians came there to improve their French. However, the site never completely stopped its military training. Cadets in their first year and groups of officers continued to take courses at Fort Saint-Jean.
In 2008, the military college reopened. It now offers classes to all first-year cadets in all programs. Students past their first year can study International Studies and get their degree from the college. This is because it was given university status in 2021. CMR St-Jean is still open to the public, which is special in Canada. There is a museum and a sports complex (with an ice rink and swimming pool) on site.
Fort Saint-Jean Museum
| Established | 1960 |
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| Location | Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean’s old Protestant Church on the campus of the Royal Military College Saint-Jean |
The Fort Saint-Jean Museum started in 1960. It began as a private collection of old objects, military items, and historical papers. Over the years, the museum grew its collection. It now offers many interesting exhibits about the fort's rich military past. The Museum was first in the Old Guardhouse. This building was built by the Royal Engineers between 1883 and 1889. In 2005, it moved to the CMR's old Protestant Church. This new location allowed for better exhibits and more visitors.
The Musée du Fort Saint Jean has collected about 2,588 pictures. These photos are part of an online album. They show the history of Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean from 1952 to 1984.
Archaeological Discoveries
In the early 1980s, Parks Canada led archaeological digs at Fort Saint-Jean. During these digs, they found the foundations of part of the 1748 French fort. They also found many interesting objects from both the French and British times.
Working with the Fort Saint-Jean Museum, the Royal Military College of Saint-Jean, and Université Laval, a five-year digging project took place. From 2009 to 2013, archaeology students from University Laval did excavations every summer. They worked from mid-July to mid-August. Their goal was to learn more about the site's past.
Important Buildings and Features
A metal plaque at the main gate of the college describes the history of Fort Saint-Jean. It says:
As a result of the Iroquois wars a first fort was erected at St-Jean by the French in 1666. In 1748 a second fort was built to protect the French colony against British military expeditions coming up the Richelieu. Later on, as a result of the American Revolution, two redoubts were built to protect the now English colony against an American invasion. Following the 1837 uprising a new military complex was built on the site of its predecessors. It is this complex which has served since 1952 as the core of the new Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean.
The DeLery Building is a classroom building. It was named after Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry. He was a military engineer who built Fort Saint-Jean in 1748. The Officers' Mess, the La Galissonière Pavilion, and the Montcalm Pavilion are British buildings. They were built in 1839 by the Royal Engineers.
The Richelieu and Iberville Squadrons use the Cartier Building. The Tracy and Jolliet Squadrons use the Champlain Building. Other buildings like Pavillons Vanier, DeLéry, Dextraze, LaHaie, Massey, and the Old Mess are shared.
Images for kids
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Aerial view of Royal Military College Saint-Jean
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A gun at Royal Military College Saint-Jean
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Administration Building No. 24 (1937-8)
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Former Museum, Former Guard House, Building 26 (1885)
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Tank at Royal Military College Saint-Jean
