Jacques Bizard
Encyclopedia
Jacques Bizard was seigneur of île Bonaventure, later renamed île-Bizard. Born in Benaix, Neuchatel in Switzerland to a Calvinist pastor, Bizard served in the Venetian army where he met Louis de Buade, better known as Comte de Frontenac. The two men later served together in the French army where Bizard was made aide-de-camp
to Frontenac.
After Frontenac's appointment as Governor General of New France
, Bizard accompanied him and landed in Quebec City
in 1672. A few years later, he was sent to Montreal to investigate claims of illegal sale of alcohol to the Natives. However, the leader of the smugglers, Montreal Governor François-Marie Perrot, imprisoned Bizard. With the help of Frontenac, Bizard was liberated and Perrot was removed from office. A year later, in 1678, he was grantedîle Bonaventure
on which he created a seigneury. That very same year, he married Jeanne-Cécile Closse. The couple had 9 children, 4 of whom would live to adulthood.
During his tenure as seigneur, he continued Perrot's illegal alcohol trade. Despite being condemned by prominent Montrealers for this action, his friendship with Frontenac protected him from any legal actions.
Jacques Bizard Bridge
, which connects Île Bizard
to Montreal Island, was named after him.
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Frontenac.
After Frontenac's appointment as Governor General of New France
Governor General of New France
Governor General of New France was the vice-regal post in New France from 1663 until 1760 and was the last French vice-regal post. It was replaced by the British post of Governor of the Province of Quebec following the fall of New France...
, Bizard accompanied him and landed in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
in 1672. A few years later, he was sent to Montreal to investigate claims of illegal sale of alcohol to the Natives. However, the leader of the smugglers, Montreal Governor François-Marie Perrot, imprisoned Bizard. With the help of Frontenac, Bizard was liberated and Perrot was removed from office. A year later, in 1678, he was grantedîle Bonaventure
L'Île-Bizard, Quebec
Ville de L'Île-Bizard is a former municipality located on Île Bizard, an island northwest of the Island of Montreal. It was originally incorporated as a municipality on July 1, 1855 as Paroisse de Saint-Raphael-de l'Ile-Bizard....
on which he created a seigneury. That very same year, he married Jeanne-Cécile Closse. The couple had 9 children, 4 of whom would live to adulthood.
During his tenure as seigneur, he continued Perrot's illegal alcohol trade. Despite being condemned by prominent Montrealers for this action, his friendship with Frontenac protected him from any legal actions.
Jacques Bizard Bridge
Jacques Bizard Bridge
Jacques Bizard Bridge is a bridge that crosses the Rivière des Prairies and connects L'Île Bizard to Montreal Island. Except for a cable ferry that connects Île Bizard with Laval-sur-le-Lac, it is the only access to Île Bizard, which had a population of 13,861 as of the 2001 census. It carries...
, which connects Île Bizard
Île Bizard
Île Bizard is an island near the Island of Montreal in the Hochelaga Archipelago region.It was formerly a separate municipality named Ville de L'Île-Bizard, but is now part of the city of Montreal, in the borough of L'Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève....
to Montreal Island, was named after him.