Charles Aubert de La Chesnaye
Encyclopedia
Charles Aubert de La Chesnaye (12 February 1632 - 20 September 1702) was a French businessman active in Canada. The richest financier and businessman in New France
, he played an important part in the colony's economic life (such as its trade, finance, fur trade, fishing and agriculture), owned several seigneuries and was a member of the Sovereign Council of New France
. In 1682 he founded the (largely unsuccessful) Compagnie du Nord to compete with the Hudson's Bay Company
. He has been called "the principal businessman and the greatest landowner of the colony". Several places in the Quebec state
and Quebec City
are named after him and in 1971 he was made one of Canada's Persons of National Historic Significance
. His descendants include the writer Philippe-Joseph Aubert de Gaspé
.
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...
, he played an important part in the colony's economic life (such as its trade, finance, fur trade, fishing and agriculture), owned several seigneuries and was a member of the Sovereign Council of New France
Sovereign Council of New France
The Sovereign Council of New France was a political body appointed by the King of France and consisting of a Governor General, an Intendant of New France answered to the French Minister of the Marine, And also the Bishop witch helped with laws and land...
. In 1682 he founded the (largely unsuccessful) Compagnie du Nord to compete with the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
. He has been called "the principal businessman and the greatest landowner of the colony". Several places in the Quebec state
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and 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...
are named after him and in 1971 he was made one of Canada's Persons of National Historic Significance
Persons of National Historic Significance (Canada)
Persons of National Historic Significance, , are people designated by the Canadian government as being nationally significant in the history of the country. Designations are made by the Minister of the Environment on the recommendation of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada....
. His descendants include the writer Philippe-Joseph Aubert de Gaspé
Philippe-Joseph Aubert de Gaspé
Philippe-Joseph Aubert de Gaspé was a French Canadian writer and seigneur.He was born at Quebec City in 1786, the son of seigneur Pierre-Ignace Aubert de Gaspé and Catherine Tarieu de Lanaudière, the daughter of seigneur Charles-François Tarieu de La Naudière. The Aubert de Gaspé family was...
.