Intendant of New France

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New France was governed by three rulers: the governor, the bishop and the intendant, all appointed by the King, and sent from France. The intendant was responsible for finance, economic development, and the administration of justice (law and order). He also presided over the Conseil souverain. Because of his extensive powers, there were often disputes over jurisdiction between the governor and the intendant.

The first intendant of New France was Jean Talon, appointed in 1665 when the colony became a royal province of France. It was Talon who took the first census of the colony in 1666.

Name Term Sovereign
Jean Talon 1665-1668 Louis XIV
Claude de Boutroue d'Aubigny 1668-1670
Jean Talon 1669-1672
Jacques Duchesneau de la Doussinière et d'Ambault [1] 1675-1682
Jacques de Meulles [2] 1682-1686
Jean Bochart de Champigny, sieur de Noroy de Verneuil [3] 1686-1702
François de Beauharnois de la Chaussaye, Baron de Beauville 1702-1705
Jacques Raudot co-intendant 1705-1711
Antoine-Denis Raudot co-intendant 1705-1710
Michel Bégon de la Picardière 1712-1726 Louis XV
Claude-Thomas Dupuy 1726-1728
Gilles Hocquart 1729-1748
François Bigot 1748-1760
  • Intendants' names are recorded as given in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography.
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