Paul de Chomedey, sieur de Maisonneuve was a French military officer and the founder of Montreal in New France.
Background
Paul de Chomedey was born on February 15, 1612 in Neuville-sur-Vannes, France. He was the son of Louis de Chomedey, seigneur of Chavane, Germenoy-en-Brie, and his second wife Marie de Thomelin, the daughter of Jean de Thomelin
Little is known of his youth, but he became a soldier at the age of thirteen and gained experience in the Holland campaigns.
Career
He was selected by the Society of Our Lady of Mount Royal as a devout and soldierly man to be commander in chief and governor of the new city of Ville Marie, later named Montreal.
He was accompanied by Jeanne Mance and 52 other enthusiasts when he sailed for America in 1641. They landed at Quebec, where the governor of New France, Charles de Montmarny, tried to dissuade the little company from going further, but Maisonneuve insisted and in the spring of 1641 took possession of the Island of Hochelaga (Montreal). They surrounded the cabins which they built with a stockade, for soon the Iroquois discovered that their lands had been invaded and besieged the place, killing anyone who fell into their hands.
Maisonneuve remained in command for 22 years. His original settlement was on the site now occupied by the Customs House. He was removed from office in 1663, on charges that he had failed to people and develop the colony, though its population had grown from its original 54 to 2, 500.
Despite the fact that expected development funds had not come from France, the colony extended westward toward the rising ground now covered by Place d'Armes. Montreal, though founded as a religious center, had begun to assume a commercial character. Maisonneuve retired to France on May 5, 1665.