Charles de Saint-Étienne de la Tour

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Location of Fort La Tour along the Saint John Harbour

Charles de Saint-Étienne de la Tour, governor of Acadia from 1631-1642 and again from 1653-1657, was born in France in 1593 and died at Cap de Sable in 1666.

1 Early History
2 Fratricide
3 External links
4 References

[edit] Early History

In 1610, at the age of 17, Charles arrived at Port-Royal in Acadia in present-day Nova Scotia with his father Claude de Saint-Étienne de la Tour, in an expedition that was led by Jean de Biencourt who had been one of the original settlers in 1604 at Saint Croix] and 1605 at Port-Royal. The habitation had been previously abandoned in 1607 by Poutrincourt and others due to financial troubles. The 1610 expedition also included Poutrincourt's 19-year old son Charles de Biencourt de Saint-Just, and a Catholic priest who set about himself the task of baptizing the local Mi'kmaqs, including their chief Membertou.

In 1613, the settlement, or habitation, at Port Royal was attacked by colonists from Virginia led by Captain Samuel Argall. Several settlers were killed, others taken prisoner and the fort and goods were destroyed. Poutrincourt who had wintered in France to gather supplies returned to Port Royal the next spring. He was forced to return to France with the surviving settlers. The young Biencourt and Charles de la Tour remained, living amongst the Mi'kmaq, engaging in the fur industry. Biencourt died in 1623 and was succeeded by Charles.

In 1625, Charles married a woman from one of the local First Nations' tribes and the family built a trading fort at the mouth of the Penobscot River in present-day Maine. In 1626, the fort was attacked and destroyed by New England colonists. Charles returned to Port-Royal.

In 1631, Charles had become governor of Acadia and moved to the mouth of the St. John River in present-day Saint John, New Brunswick where he built a new fort. In 1635, he formally granted a seignory.

Historian MacDonald writes about La Tour's possession at the mouth of this river: [d]own this river highway came fleets of canoes, bringing the richest fur harvest in all Acadia to Charles La Tour's storehouses: three thousand moose skins a year, uncounted beaver and otter. On this tongue of land his habitation stood, yellow-roofed, log-palisaded, its cannon commanding the river and bay (p. 183).

[edit] Fratricide

In 1632, Isaac de Razilly the new Lieutenant-general of all New France and governor of Acadia, arrived in Port-Royal, sent by his cousin Cardinal Richelieu. Charles and Razilly agreed to divide control of Acadia, the latter controlling the south-western corner of Nova Scotia and the territory along the St. John River. Razilly died in 1635. His successor, Charles de Menou d'Aulnay, and Charles began series of violent confrontations that cost dearly.

During these confrontations, Charles is accused of treason and crimes against Acadia.

In 1645, while Charles was in Boston seeking reinforcements, d'Aulnay attacked Fort La Tour. Charles' second wife, Marie Jacquelin La Tour, defended the fort for three days. On April 17, despite losing thirty-three men, d'Aulnay took control of the fort. La Tour's men are sent to the gallows. Madame La Tour is taken prisoner and dies three months later. Charles sought refuge at the Chateau Saint-Louis in Quebec. D'Aulnay becomes governor-general and seigneur of Acadia.

In 1650, d'Aulnay dies when his canoe capsizes. His widow, Jeanne Motin is heavily indebt. Charles, hearing of the death of d'Aulnay, returns to France and is rehabilitated

On February 24, 1653, Charles marries for the third time, to Jeanne Motin, the widow of his enemy, d'Aulnay. Charles died in 1666.

Preceded by Charles de Biencourt de Saint-Just (1615-1623)	Governor of Acadia 1631-1642 along with Isaac de Razilly (1632-1635) and Charles de Menou d'Aulnay (1638-1650	Succeeded by Charles de Menou d'Aulnay (1638-1650)