Portrait of Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve

Ville-Marie (Montreal), New France (Quebec), 1600.
Portrait of Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve

Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve was born on February 15, 1612 in Neuville-sur-Vanne (France). Gentleman, officer, member of the Société Notre-Dame de Montréal, he founded Ville-Marie in 1642 and was the first governor of the island of Montreal. Following the advice of his sister, Louise de Chomedey, Directress of the extern congregation of the Congrégation Notre-Dame à Troyes, he recruited Marguerite Bourgeoys to teach the children of the new colony. De Maisonneuve fully supported this first teacher of Ville-Marie and her community: the Congrégation de Notre-Dame. Recalled in France en 1665, he retired in Paris where he died in 1676.