Pierre Boucher
Encyclopedia
Pierre Boucher and later Pierre Boucher de Boucherville, born and baptized 1 August 1622 in Mortagne-au-Perche
, died 19 April 1717 at the age of 95 at Boucherville, came to Canada from France
in 1635 with his father. At the age of 18, he entered the services of the Jesuits and spent 4 years with the Huron missions at Georgian Bay
(see Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
).
In 1641, Governor Huault de Montmagny
took him into his service as a soldier in the garrison of Quebec city
, but especially as an interpreter and agent to the Indian tribes due to his familiarity with the Huron dialects. In this capacity he took part in all the parleys of the authorities with the Indians.
In 1645 Boucher was appointed official interpreter of Indian languages at Trois-Rivières
. He was appointed commissary-general of the trading post in 1648 and elected captain of the militia in 1651. While in this capacity he distinguished himself against an attack by the Iroquois
in 1653 and concluded a peace treaty with them on favorable terms. The next year, owing to this success he was named governor of the settlement. In 1661 he was sent to France to represent the colonies. He returned with soldiers, supplies, additional settlers and a commitment of support to the New France
colony by the French Monarch, Louis XIV. Re-appointed governor in 1662 he continued this position until his resignation in 1667. His "L'histoire veritable et naturelle des moeurs et productions du pays de la Nouvelle-France, vulgairement dite le Canada", a description of the flora, fauna and native societies in the region (and a significant, pioneering documentation of North American natural history) was published in Paris in 1664. He was succeeded in the governorship by his son-in-law, René Gaultier de Varennes
.
Pierre Boucher had 15 children. His first wife, Marie Madeliene Chretienne, was a Huron girl who had been educated by the Ursuline order of nuns; she died in childbirth. He was survived by his second wife, Jeanne Crevier. The family is still in existence today. Surnames in the Boucher line include Grosbois, or de Grosbois. Descendents have spread beyond Canada including the United States
, Mauritius
, France
and the West Indies.
He withdrew from public office to establish his seignorial parish at Boucherville on the south shore of the St Lawrence River near Montreal
.
Pierre Boucher was the first Canadian settler to be ennobled by King Louis XIV. He died at his seignory
at Boucherville, which was named in his honour.
Mortagne-au-Perche
Mortagne-au-Perche is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France.-Heraldry:-Demographic evolution:* 1962: 3909* 1968: 4322* 1975: 4877* 1982: 4851* 1990: 4584* 1999: 45131962 population without double counting-People:...
, died 19 April 1717 at the age of 95 at Boucherville, came to Canada from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1635 with his father. At the age of 18, he entered the services of the Jesuits and spent 4 years with the Huron missions at Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay is a large bay of Lake Huron, located entirely within Ontario, Canada...
(see Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons was a French Jesuit settlement in Wendake, the land of the Wendat, near modern Midland, Ontario, from 1639 to 1649. It was the first European settlement in what is now the province of Ontario. Eight missionaries from Sainte-Marie were martyred, and were canonized by...
).
In 1641, Governor Huault de Montmagny
Charles de Montmagny
Charles Jacques Huault de Montmagny was governor of New France from 1636 to 1648. He succeeded Champlain, who was Lieutenant General of New France, although treated de facto as if he were governor...
took him into his service as a soldier in the garrison of 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...
, but especially as an interpreter and agent to the Indian tribes due to his familiarity with the Huron dialects. In this capacity he took part in all the parleys of the authorities with the Indians.
In 1645 Boucher was appointed official interpreter of Indian languages at Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières, Quebec
Trois-Rivières is a city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada, located at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice and Saint Lawrence Rivers. It is situated in the Mauricie administrative region, on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River across from the city of Bécancour...
. He was appointed commissary-general of the trading post in 1648 and elected captain of the militia in 1651. While in this capacity he distinguished himself against an attack by the Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
in 1653 and concluded a peace treaty with them on favorable terms. The next year, owing to this success he was named governor of the settlement. In 1661 he was sent to France to represent the colonies. He returned with soldiers, supplies, additional settlers and a commitment of support to the New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
colony by the French Monarch, Louis XIV. Re-appointed governor in 1662 he continued this position until his resignation in 1667. His "L'histoire veritable et naturelle des moeurs et productions du pays de la Nouvelle-France, vulgairement dite le Canada", a description of the flora, fauna and native societies in the region (and a significant, pioneering documentation of North American natural history) was published in Paris in 1664. He was succeeded in the governorship by his son-in-law, René Gaultier de Varennes
René Gaultier de Varennes
René Gaultier de Varennes is best known in Canadian history as being one of the early governors of Trois-Rivières, Quebec and the father of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye, a famous Canadian explorer and fur trader...
.
Pierre Boucher had 15 children. His first wife, Marie Madeliene Chretienne, was a Huron girl who had been educated by the Ursuline order of nuns; she died in childbirth. He was survived by his second wife, Jeanne Crevier. The family is still in existence today. Surnames in the Boucher line include Grosbois, or de Grosbois. Descendents have spread beyond Canada including the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the West Indies.
He withdrew from public office to establish his seignorial parish at Boucherville on the south shore of the St Lawrence River near Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.
Pierre Boucher was the first Canadian settler to be ennobled by King Louis XIV. He died at his seignory
Seignory
In English law, Seignory or seigniory , the lordship remaining to a grantor after the grant of an estate in fee simple....
at Boucherville, which was named in his honour.
See also
- Musee Pierre Boucher at Séminaire Saint-Joseph de Trois-RivièresSéminaire Saint-Joseph de Trois-RivièresThe Séminaire Saint-Joseph de Trois-Rivières is a private scholar institution in the Quebec region of Mauricie. Located in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, it is, within the unique Quebec education system, a secondary school...
- Frederick MontizambertFrederick MontizambertFrederick Montizambert, CMG, ISO was a Canadian physician and civil servant. He was the first Director General of Public Health in Canada....
- Timothy DemonbreunTimothy DemonbreunJacques-Timothée Boucher, Sieur de Montbrun, anglicized as Timothy Demonbreun was a French-Canadian fur trader, an officer of the American Revolution, Lieutenant-Governor of the Illinois Territory and is known as the "first citizen" of Nashville, Tennessee.-Hunter and Entrepreneur:Described as...
- great grandson