Jean Renaud is first noted in Canadian history in 1768 when he married at 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...

. He owned property and was a merchant

Renaud was noted during the American siege of Quebec in the winter of 1775–76 as a member of the British militia. He distinguished himself during an American assault on the barricades. In recognition of his service he was appointed as chief road commissioner for the District of Quebec in 1782.

Renaud was involved in a number of important improvements to the roads of the area. He built the first road from the Saint Lawrence River

Saint Lawrence River

The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...

 to Lac Témiscouata. This road was important for improved royal mail service to Fort Howe

Fort Howe

Fort Howe was built during the American Revolution shortly after the American Siege of Saint John to protect Saint John from further American raids. The 18th and 19th century British Army fortification is built in present-day New Brunswick, Canada at the mouth of the Saint John River where it...

, New Brunswick

New Brunswick

New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...

.