Pierre Foretier
Encyclopedia
Pierre Foretier was a fur trade
r, seigneur
and official in Lower Canada
.
He was born in Montreal
in 1738, the son of a shoemaker who died when Pierre was nine. He became a merchant supplying goods to fur traders. In 1764, he married Thérèse Legrand, daughter of a Montreal merchant. He owned his own store and operated a store for his father-in-law. He partnered with Joseph Périnault
in several fur trading expeditions. In 1765, with Périnault, he purchased a large part of the sub-fief of Closse and the seigneury of Île-Bizard, later buying out his partner and purchasing the remainder of these properties. After 1767, he operated on his own before taking on Jean Orillat as a partner in 1774. Foretier also purchased property in the faubourg Saint-Laurent in Montreal. During the American
invasion of 1775-6, he helped supply Canadian forces, despite having his home occupied by an American colonel and his entourage.
He was named a justice of the peace in 1779. Foretier was among those who lobbied for constitutional reform in the province; he ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the legislative assembly in 1792. Foretier later served in the militia, serving as colonel from 1804 until his death at Montreal in 1815.
His daughter Marie-Amable married Denis-Benjamin Viger
; his daughter Marie-Élizabeth married judge Louis-Charles Foucher
. His grandson Hugues Heney
later represented Montreal East in the legislative assembly and served in the province's Executive Council.
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
r, seigneur
Seigneurial system of New France
The seigneurial system of New France was the semi-feudal system of land distribution used in the North American colonies of New France.-Introduction to New France:...
and official in Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
.
He was born in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in 1738, the son of a shoemaker who died when Pierre was nine. He became a merchant supplying goods to fur traders. In 1764, he married Thérèse Legrand, daughter of a Montreal merchant. He owned his own store and operated a store for his father-in-law. He partnered with Joseph Périnault
Joseph Périnault
Joseph Périnault was a fur trader, seigneur and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in Montreal in 1732 and worked as a tailor there. With other Montreal merchants, he also invested in the fur trade and took part in fur trading expeditions...
in several fur trading expeditions. In 1765, with Périnault, he purchased a large part of the sub-fief of Closse and the seigneury of Île-Bizard, later buying out his partner and purchasing the remainder of these properties. After 1767, he operated on his own before taking on Jean Orillat as a partner in 1774. Foretier also purchased property in the faubourg Saint-Laurent in Montreal. During the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
invasion of 1775-6, he helped supply Canadian forces, despite having his home occupied by an American colonel and his entourage.
He was named a justice of the peace in 1779. Foretier was among those who lobbied for constitutional reform in the province; he ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the legislative assembly in 1792. Foretier later served in the militia, serving as colonel from 1804 until his death at Montreal in 1815.
His daughter Marie-Amable married Denis-Benjamin Viger
Denis-Benjamin Viger
Denis-Benjamin Viger was a 19th century Lower Canadian politician, lawyer, businessman, and Patriote movement member.Viger was part of the militia in the early 19th century and then a captain in the War of 1812...
; his daughter Marie-Élizabeth married judge Louis-Charles Foucher
Louis-Charles Foucher
Louis-Charles Foucher was a notary, lawyer, judge and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born at Rivière-des-Prairies in Montreal in 1760 and studied at the Collège Saint-Raphaël. He qualified to practice as a notary in 1784; he was admitted to the bar in 1789 and set up practice in law at...
. His grandson Hugues Heney
Hugues Heney
Hugues Heney was a lawyer and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in Montreal in 1789, the grandson of Pierre Foretier, and studied at the Collège Saint-Raphaël. Heney articled with Joseph Bédard in Montreal, was called to the bar in 1811 and set up practice in Montreal...
later represented Montreal East in the legislative assembly and served in the province's Executive Council.