Jean de Biencourt de Poutrincourt et de Saint-Just

Jean de Biencourt (1557–1615) was a member of the French nobility best remembered as a commander of the French colonial empire responsible for establishing the first permanent settlement in the North American territory that became known as Acadia. He made his first voyage to the New World with Du Gua de Monts who granted him the place that was named Port-Royal in exchange for his promise to colonize the area. This included fur-trading privileges and fishing rights and was confirmed by the King of France on February 25, 1606. The inclusion of the fur-trading rights was particularly important to the early years of the colony.

In 1606 Poutrincourt returned to Port Royal to establish his colony. He held the title of Lieutenant-governor of Acadia and was to explore the area to locate another settlement. No new settlement was founded and Port Royal suffered many set-backs leading to its abandonment.

Poutrincourt returned to Acadia in 1610 and among those aboard were his son, Charles de Biencourt de Saint-Just and a young Charles de Saint-Étienne de la Tour and his father, Claude de Saint-Étienne de la Tour.

Jean de Poutrincourt married Claude Pajot, they had two sons and six daughters.

External links

• Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online