B. about 1575 in Paris, France
M. 19 Feb 1601 in Paris, France
Wife: Marie Rollet
D. 25 Jan 1627 in New France
One of the most unlikely figures in colonial American history was Louis Hébert, a Paris druggist who ended up being the first white man to cultivate land in what is now Canada. He was breaking new ground in more ways than one, and because he had no peers during his years as a farmer, it might also be said that he was way ahead of his time.
Louis was born in Paris to Nicolas Hébert and Jacqueline Pajot sometime between 1572 and 1575. He had an older sister and brother, and a younger sister, but his mother died when he was young. The family home on Rue Saint-Honore still exists, a townhouse in the heart of Paris. His father Nicolas was apothecary to former queen of France, Catherine de ‘Medici, and so as a boy, Louis must have been exposed to many of the noteworthy people in France.
As Louis came of age, he decided to follow his father into the same profession. By 1600, he established himself in Paris, selling medicine and spices in a shop. Because his work involved cultivating plants, Louis took a great interest in gardening throughout his life; it was said he had a passion for growing herbs. On February 19, 1601, Louis married Marie Rollet at the Church of Saint-Sulpice in Paris. The couple was only known to have had three children, who were born between about 1602 and about 1614.
Louis Hébert at work as an apothecary.
In 1606, Louis’ life took a dramatic turn through his association with some men interested in colonizing North America. The man in charge of the effort was Jean de Biencourt de Poutrincourt, who was married to Louis’ wife’s niece. Because of this connection, and a need for someone with knowledge of medicine in the settlement, Louis was recruited. The group of about 50 men were joining the colony of Port-Royal, Acadia, which had been started in 1604 by Samuel de Champlain. Louis didn’t bring his wife and children as there were no women in the new settlement.
Louis seemed to thrive in Port-Royal. He was part of an expedition to explore other possible sites for settlements, and Poutincourt led a group down the coast all the way to Cape Cod. The mission was to make contact with any Indians in the area to see if the French could co-exist with them. Unfortunately, one tribe turned hostile and got into a skirmish, killing several French men. For that reason, Poutincourt and Champlain abandoned the idea of colonizing near Cape Cod, which the English successfully did about 14 years later.
The following year, Louis returned to France along with most of the company when they lost their backing from the king. The outpost started up again in 1610, and Louis moved back. His time in Acadia ended in 1613 when the English attacked and destroyed the settlement, forcing everyone to return to France.
Louis seemed to thrive in Port-Royal. He was part of an expedition to explore other possible sites for settlements, and Poutincourt led a group down the coast all the way to Cape Cod. The mission was to make contact with any Indians in the area to see if the French could co-exist with them. Unfortunately, one tribe turned hostile and got into a skirmish, killing several French men. For that reason, Poutincourt and Champlain abandoned the idea of colonizing near Cape Cod, which the English successfully did about 14 years later.
The following year, Louis returned to France along with most of the company when they lost their backing from the king. The outpost started up again in 1610, and Louis moved back. His time in Acadia ended in 1613 when the English attacked and destroyed the settlement, forcing everyone to return to France.
Port Royal in about 1612.
Champlain had gotten to know Louis in Acadia, and in 1617, he sought him out to join in a new colony he was starting on the St. Lawrence River, which would become Quebec. Champlain made an offer to Louis to bring his family and stay there for at least 3 years; in return, Louis would get land and an annual salary of 600 livres (which was later reduced to 300 livres). So he, his wife and children settled in Quebec, making them the first European family to permanently live in Canada.
The 10 acres Louis was given in Quebec was the first ever land grant by the French government in New France. The present-day site is in the heart of Quebec City where the Basilica of Notre Dame stands. Louis planted crops, thereby becoming Quebec’s first farmer. The land was outside the small compound that served as the outpost. Since fur trading was the primary objective of the French settlers, Louis was the only one besides Champlain who was interested in growing crops. He was said to have “gardens in which flourished a variety of vegetables,” along with “cultivated land filled with fine grain.” The farm eventually had a pasture for cattle and an apple orchard. The cultivation was accomplished by using hand tools only, because Louis didn’t have a plow.
When Champlain left Quebec to return to France in 1620, Louis was assigned the position of “king’s attorney,” giving him some authority over administration of the colony. Some of the fur traders were at odds with Louis because clearing forests was bad for their business, but he was said to have great relations with the Indians, and he sometimes treated them with his medicines. Champlain’s settlement was slow in taking hold, and during the first few years, only a handful of people signed on. While the 100 or so people relied mainly on food from supply ships, the Hébert farm offered a back-up in case the ships were delayed in France, so Louis really played an important role in the beginnings of Canada.
Unfortunately, Louis didn’t live to see the success of the colony. In late 1626, he slipped and fell on some ice, and on January 25, 1627, he died from the injuries he suffered. His wife Marie remarried after his death and gained her own reputation by caring for Native American children. She passed away in 1649.
The 10 acres Louis was given in Quebec was the first ever land grant by the French government in New France. The present-day site is in the heart of Quebec City where the Basilica of Notre Dame stands. Louis planted crops, thereby becoming Quebec’s first farmer. The land was outside the small compound that served as the outpost. Since fur trading was the primary objective of the French settlers, Louis was the only one besides Champlain who was interested in growing crops. He was said to have “gardens in which flourished a variety of vegetables,” along with “cultivated land filled with fine grain.” The farm eventually had a pasture for cattle and an apple orchard. The cultivation was accomplished by using hand tools only, because Louis didn’t have a plow.
When Champlain left Quebec to return to France in 1620, Louis was assigned the position of “king’s attorney,” giving him some authority over administration of the colony. Some of the fur traders were at odds with Louis because clearing forests was bad for their business, but he was said to have great relations with the Indians, and he sometimes treated them with his medicines. Champlain’s settlement was slow in taking hold, and during the first few years, only a handful of people signed on. While the 100 or so people relied mainly on food from supply ships, the Hébert farm offered a back-up in case the ships were delayed in France, so Louis really played an important role in the beginnings of Canada.
Unfortunately, Louis didn’t live to see the success of the colony. In late 1626, he slipped and fell on some ice, and on January 25, 1627, he died from the injuries he suffered. His wife Marie remarried after his death and gained her own reputation by caring for Native American children. She passed away in 1649.
Louis and Marie left a profound legacy in Canada. They have their own monument in a park in Quebec City featuring a statue of Louis, and a statue of Marie with their three children. Of the New France couples who left the most descendants, Louis and Marie rank as number 10. And their descendants include Hillary Clinton, Celine Dion, Jane Krakowski, Jack Kerouac, Jim Carrey, Alex Trebek, Ricky Gervais, Chloë Sevigny, and Bridget Fonda.
Louis' monument in Quebec City. (Source: Jeangagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons)
Children:
1. Anne Hébert – B. about 1602, Paris, France; D. abt 1619, New France; M. Etenne Jonquest (~1590-~1620), 1618, New France
2. Marie-Guillemette Hébert – B. about 1604, Paris, France; D. 20 Oct 1684, Quebec City, New France; M. Guillaume Couillard (1588-1663), 26 Aug 1621, Quebec City, New France
3. Guillaume Hébert – B. about 1614, Paris, France; D. 23 Sep 1639, Quebec City, New France; M. Hélène Desportes (1620-1675), 1 Oct 1634, Quebec City, New France
Sources:
Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française (website)
Champlain’s Dream, David Hackett Fischer, 2008
Hélène’s World: Hélène Desportes of Seventeenth Century Quebec, Susan McNelley, 2014
Find-a-Grave.com
Dictionary of Canadian Biography
Louis Hébert (Wikipedia article)
1. Anne Hébert – B. about 1602, Paris, France; D. abt 1619, New France; M. Etenne Jonquest (~1590-~1620), 1618, New France
2. Marie-Guillemette Hébert – B. about 1604, Paris, France; D. 20 Oct 1684, Quebec City, New France; M. Guillaume Couillard (1588-1663), 26 Aug 1621, Quebec City, New France
3. Guillaume Hébert – B. about 1614, Paris, France; D. 23 Sep 1639, Quebec City, New France; M. Hélène Desportes (1620-1675), 1 Oct 1634, Quebec City, New France
Sources:
Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française (website)
Champlain’s Dream, David Hackett Fischer, 2008
Hélène’s World: Hélène Desportes of Seventeenth Century Quebec, Susan McNelley, 2014
Find-a-Grave.com
Dictionary of Canadian Biography
Louis Hébert (Wikipedia article)
