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Old Montreal in Montréal, Québec — Central Canada (French-Canadian)
 

Montréal’s Founders and First Colonists Monument

 
 
Montréal’s Founders and First Colonists Monument, Dedication panel image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2014
1. Montréal’s Founders and First Colonists Monument, Dedication panel
Inscription. This obelisk honors the founders and first colonists of the City of Montréal. There are four panels at the base of the monument.
Panel 1:
Le XVIII Mai MDCCCXCIII
Ce monument a été erige
par
La Société Historique de Montrèal
a la memoire
des généreux fondateurs de cette ville
et
Des premiers colons arrives ici
en
MDCXLII
Ce que vous voyez ici, Messieurs, n’est qu’ un chain de sénevé, mais… je ne doute nullement que ce petit grain ne produise un grand arbre, qu’il ne fasse un jour des progrès merveilleux , ne se multiplie et ne s’étende de toute par.
(Paroles adressées au colons, par le R.P. Vimont, le XVIII Mai MDCXLII)
Ce projet de Montreal pourra être, un temps a venir une grande gloire a Dieu, l’honneur de l’Église et une grande utilité a ce Royaume.
(Paroles de M. Olier, “Les Veritables Motifs,” etc.)


Panel 2:
Noms des Fondateurs
de
Montréal
Jerome le Royer de la Dauversiere
et Jean-Jacques Olier Fondateur de Saint-Sulpice
ont eu
chacun séparément l’inspiration d’établir cette ville
Ils ont
Pourvu aux premieres dépenses et travaille de concert
La
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Dauversiere
Apparait dans les transactions extérieures
Olier
Est l’âme de la société dont il excite
le courage et la générosité
Ils réunissent autour d’eux
P. Chevrier, Baron de Fancamp • N. Laisne de Barillon • L’abbe Le Gauffre • N. Bardin • Jeanne Mance • P. Chomedey de Maisonneuve • Anglique Faure de Bullion • Gaston de Renty, Baron de Renty • Henri-Louis Habert de Montmor • L’abbe Nicolas Jaubert de Barrault • Roger du Plessis, duc de Laincourt • N. Laisne de la Marguerie • Louis Le Pretre de Fleury • L’abbe Denis Le Pretre • Isabelle Seguier de Livry • Jean Galibal • N. Quatorze • Jean-Antoine de Mesmes d’Irval • Philibert Brandon de Laurent • Louis d’Ailleboust de Coulonge • Isabelle Blondeau de Villesavin • Louis Seguier, baron de Saint-Fremin • Balthasar Brandon de Bassancourt • Madame la Chanceliere Louise Fabry • L’bbe Gabriel de Thubieres de Levis-Queylus • L’abbe Alexandre le Ragois de Bretonvilliers • Antoine Barillon de Morancis de Chaudebonne • Christophe du Plessis, baron de Montbar • Bertrand Drouart, secretaire • Et plusieurs autres dont les noms sont demeures inconnus.


Panel 3:
Noms des premiers
Montréal’s Founders and First Colonists Monument, Founders panel image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2014
2. Montréal’s Founders and First Colonists Monument, Founders panel
colons
de
Montréal
MDCXLII
Mai - Août
Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve
R.P. Poncet, S.J. • Pierre Puiseaux de Montrenault • Catherine Barre • Jean Gorry • Isabeau Panie • Jean Robelin • Augustin Herbert • Adrienne Duvilvier • Antoine Damien • Marie Joly • Jean Caillot • Pierre Laimery • Nicolas Gode • Françoise Gadois • Françoise Gode • Nicolas Gode • Mathurine Gode • Madeleine de Chavigny de la Peltrie • Et plusieurs autres dont les noms sont inconnus
Août - Décembre
J.B. Le Gardeur de Repentigny • R.P. Joseph Imbert Duperon S.J. • Louis d’Ailleboust de Coulonge • Barbe de Boullogne • Philippine de Boullogne • Gilbert Barbier • David de la Touze • Guillaume Boissier • Bernard Berte • Pierre Laforest • Cesar Leger • Jean Caron • Leonard Lecot-Barbeau • Jacques Hauderbert • Jean Masse • Mathurin Serrurier • Jean-Baptiste Damien • Jacques Boni • Jean Philippes • Pierre Didier • Pierre Quesnel • Julien Pothier • N. Bellanger • Louis Gode • Jean Mattemale • Pierre Bigot • Guillaune Lebeau • Catherine Lezeu


Panel 4:
Le XVIII Mai MDCCCXCIII
Pres de cet obélisque
entre
Le fleuve et la rivière qui coule sous la
Montréal’s Founders and First Colonists Monument, Early Colonists panel image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2014
3. Montréal’s Founders and First Colonists Monument, Early Colonists panel
rue des Commissaires
à
l’endroit appelé Place Royale par Champlain, le XXVIIi mai MDCXI
Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve
Jeta les fondements de la Ville de Montreal
Il érigea
Les premieres habitations, le fort, la chapelle, le cimetière
Qu’il renferma dans une enceinte de pieux.
Le XXIII février MDCXII
Montréal avait été consacre a la Sainte-Vierge
sous le nom de Ville-Marie
Le XIII février MDCXLIV
Louis XIV lui accorda sa premiere charte civique
Le XXVI mars MDCXLIV
Chomedey de Maisonneuve
en
Fut nomme premier Gouverneur particulier


English translation:
Panel 1:
The 8 May 1893
This monument was erected
by
Montréal Historical Society
to the memory of
the founders of this city
and
the first settlers who arrived here
in
1642
What you see here, gentlemen, is that a chain of mustard seed, but ... I have no doubt that this small seed will produce a large tree, it gets one day of wonderful progress, multiplies and does not extends all through.
(Words addressed to the settlers by Father Vimont, the 8 May 1642)
This draft will be Montreal, a time has come great glory to God,
Montréal’s Founders and First Colonists Monument, Founding history pane; image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2014
4. Montréal’s Founders and First Colonists Monument, Founding history pane;
the honor of the Church and has great utility that Kingdom.
(Words of M. Olier, "the true motives," etc.)


Panel 2:
Names Founders
of
Montréal
Jerome Royer of Dauversière
and Jean-Jacques Olier, Founder of Saint-Sulpice
had
separately the inspiration to establish this city
They
provided the raw expenditures and works
Dauversière
appears in external transactions
Olier
is the soul of the society
they gathered around them
which excites
the courage and generosity
See the list of founders above


Panel 3:
Names of the first colonists
of
Montréal
1642
May - August
See the list of colonists above


Panel 4:
The 8 May 1893
Near this obelisk
between
the river and the river flowing beneath Commissioners Street
in
the place called Place Royale by Champlain, the 28 May 1611
Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve
laid the foundation of the city of Montreal
He erected
The first houses, the fort, chapel, cemetery
He withdrew into a stockade.
The 23 February 1612
Montreal was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary
as the Ville-Marie
13 February 1644
Louis
Montréal’s Founders and First Colonists Monument image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2014
5. Montréal’s Founders and First Colonists Monument
XIV granted his first civic charter
26 March1644
Chomedey de Maisonneuve
was appointed first Governor

 
Erected 1893 by La Société Historique de Montrèal.
 
Topics. This historical marker and monument is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is February 23, 1612.
 
Location. 45° 30.143′ N, 73° 33.279′ W. Marker is in Montréal, Québec. It is in Old Montreal. It is on Place d'Youville close to Rue de Callière, in the median. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 Place d'Youville, Montréal QC H2Y 2B3, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker and monument is in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Agathe de Saint-Père de Repentigny (within shouting distance of this marker); Aux origines de Montréal / The origins of Montréal (within shouting
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distance of this marker); Joe Beef’s Canteen (within shouting distance of this marker); Kondiaronk and Callière (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); L’Ancien Édifice de la Douane / The Old Custom House (about 90 meters away); La Grande Paix de Montréal / The Great Peace of Montréal (about 90 meters away); Russel Quay / quai Russel (about 150 meters away); Caserne 1 (about 150 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Montréal.
 
More about this marker. This monument is in Place de la Grande-Paix de Montréal
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on February 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 5, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 4,644 times since then and 279 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week February 22, 2026. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 5, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
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Jul. 19, 2026