Next year, 2008, the fourth centenary of the establishment of a permanent settlement at Quebec will be celebrated in France and Canada. There is certain to be a good deal of discussion about the parts played in that event by Samuel de Champlain and Pierre Dugua de Mons [alias Pierre du Gua de Monts]. That discussion may be puzzling to many people, especially those who have never heard of Dugua de Mons. The history of events before and after 1608 is not simple. The following article is intended to bring out unfamiliar features of the period and to sketch the background to claims that Dugua deserves to be recognized as the real founder of Quebec. Thoughtful readers will not need to be reminded that loyalty is a virtue in politics but a great obstacle to understanding in history.

FRENCH PORTS AND NORTH AMERICA BEFORE 1627: THE VIEW FROM LA ROCHELLE a paper in PDF format (373 KB) by J. F. Bosher (March 2007).

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