Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons
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Bust of Pierre Du Gua de Mons in Quebec City by Hamilton MacCarthy; installed on July 3, 2007, it is an exact copy of the one in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia.
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| Born | c. 1558 |
| Died | 1628 castle of Ardenne in Fléac-sur-Seugne
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| Occupation | merchant, explorer and colonizer |
| Parent(s) | Guy and Claire Goumard Du Gua |
Pierre Dugua de Mons (or Du Gua de Monts; around 1558 – 1628) was a French merchant, explorer, and colonizer. He was born in Royan, a town in southwestern France. He was a Calvinist, which means he was a Protestant. Pierre Dugua de Mons is famous for helping to start the first lasting French settlement in what is now Canada. He first traveled to North America in 1599.
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Early Life and Royal Favor
Pierre Du Gua de Mons was born in Saintonge, France, around 1558. His parents were Guy and Claire Goumard Du Gua. He fought for King Henri IV during the religious wars in France. Because of his great service, the king gave him a yearly payment. He also made him the governor of the town of Pons in Saintonge.
Exploring and Colonizing North America
Du Gua de Mons made several trips to Canada. One trip was in 1600 with Pierre de Chauvin de Tonnetuit to Tadoussac. In 1603, King Henry IV gave Du Gua special rights. He could explore and settle lands in North America between 40° and 60° North latitude. The king also gave him a special right to trade furs in these areas. He was named the Lieutenant General for Acadia and New France. In return, Du Gua promised to bring 60 new settlers each year.
The 1604 Expedition
In 1604, Du Gua organized a big trip. Merchants from French cities like Rouen helped pay for it. He left France with 79 settlers. Important people like Samuel de Champlain, a mapmaker, joined him. Also on board were Baron de Poutrincourt and Mathieu de Costa. Mathieu de Costa was a famous linguist and the first recorded Black man to arrive in North America.
Challenges at Saint Croix Island
In June 1604, they entered Baie Française, which is now called the Bay of Fundy. They started a colony on St. Croix Island. But the first winter was very hard. Many settlers got sick with scurvy and died. The island also did not have enough natural resources.
Moving to Port-Royal
Because of the tough winter on Saint Croix Island, the French looked for a better place. They met Native Americans along the coast. They even had two Native guides, Panounias and his wife, who helped them. Samuel de Champlain wrote about meeting the Native people. He noticed how their languages changed from place to place. The explorers also saw that the Natives farmed the land in new ways. These signs, and the trading they did, gave the French hope. They realized this new area was much better than Saint Croix Island.
In 1605, the colony moved to a better spot. They settled on the south shore of Baie Française at Port-Royal. The settlement at Port-Royal began to do well. However, in 1607, other merchants complained about Du Gua's fur trade monopoly. The king had to take away his special rights. Because of this, Du Gua and the settlers had to leave the colony and go back to France.
Founding Quebec
After returning to France, Du Gua focused on the colony of New France in the St. Lawrence River valley. He gave the Port-Royal settlement to Poutrincourt. Du Gua never came back to the New World himself. But he sent Samuel de Champlain to start a new colony at Quebec in 1608. This was a very important step. It led to the first lasting French colony in North America.
Later Life
King Henry IV made Pierre Dugua de Mons the Governor of the Protestant city of Pons, Charente-Maritime. He served from 1610 to 1617, then he retired. He then oversaw the building of a large staircase in Pons. This staircase connected the upper and lower parts of the city. He died in 1628 at the Château d'Ardenne in Fléac-sur-Seugne.
Images for kids
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Bust of Pierre Du Gua de Mons in Quebec City by Hamilton MacCarthy; installed on July 3, 2007, it is an exact copy of the one in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia.
See also
In Spanish: Pierre Dugua de Mons para niños
