Jacques Bizard (1642 – December 5, 1692) was seigneur of île Bonaventure, later renamed île-Bizard. Born in
Bevaix, Principality of
Neuchâtel
Neuchâtel (, ; ; ) is a list of towns in Switzerland, town, a Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality, and the capital (political), capital of the cantons of Switzerland, Swiss canton of Neuchâtel (canton), Neuchâtel on Lake Neuchâtel ...
, to a Calvinist pastor, Bizard served in the Venetian army where he met
Louis de Buade, better known as Comte de Frontenac. The two men later served together in the French army where Bizard was made
aide-de-camp to Frontenac.
After Frontenac's appointment as
Governor General of New France
Governor General of New France was the vice-regal post in New France from 1663 until 1760 and the last French vice-regal post. It was replaced by the British post of Governor of the Province of Quebec following the fall of New France. While t ...
, Bizard accompanied him and landed in
Quebec City
Quebec City is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the Census Metropolitan Area (including surrounding communities) had a populati ...
in 1672. A few years later, he was sent to Montreal to investigate claims of illegal sale of alcohol to indigenous buyers. However, the leader of the smugglers, Montreal Governor François-Marie Perrot, imprisoned Bizard. With the help of Frontenac, Bizard was liberated and Perrot was removed from office. A year later, in 1678, he was granted
île Bonaventure on which he created a
seigneury
A seigneur () or lord is an originally feudal system, feudal title in Ancien Régime, France before the French Revolution, Revolution, in New France and British North America until 1854, and in the Channel Islands to this day. The seigneur owne ...
. That very same year, he married
Jeanne-Cécile Closse. The couple had 9 children, 4 of whom would live to adulthood.
[Genealogy Jacques Bizar]
. Retrieved September 19, 2007
During his tenure as seigneur, he continued Perrot's illegal alcohol trade. Despite being condemned by prominent Montrealers for this action, his friendship with Frontenac protected him from any legal actions.
Jacques Bizard Bridge, which connects
ÃŽle Bizard
ÃŽle Bizard () is an island near the Island of Montreal in the Hochelaga Archipelago region. It is one of the three populated islands within the city of Montreal, along with the Island of Montreal and Nuns' Island (ÃŽle des Soeurs). The islan ...
to
Montreal Island
The Island of Montreal (, ) is an island in southwestern Quebec, Canada, which is the site of a number of municipalities, including most of the city of Montreal, and is the most populous island in Canada. It is the main island of the Hochelag ...
, was named after him.
References
External links
Biography at the ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online''
1642 births
1692 deaths
People from Boudry District
People of New France
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