Phillippe de Longvilliers de Poincy
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Phillippe de Longvilliers de Poincy (1583 - 1660) was a French nobleman and Bailiff Grand Cross of the Knights of Malta.
On February 20 he took up his commission as Lieutenant Governor of the Isles of America and Captain general of the French at St Kitts. He arrived wearing the regalia of the Knights of St John and soon dispensed with the authority of the French king, declaring "The people of St Kitts will have no other Governor than De Poincy and will take no orders from the King of France."
By 1642 he started building the Chateau de Montagne on his estate called La Fontaine. This was an elaborate building, credited as being one of the grandest ever constructed in the Americas, though today it is in ruins. The grounds of La Fontaine were also heavily planted with exotic tropical plants. He specifically imported the flamboyant plant from Madagascar for his garden, and is credited with introducing the beautiful plant to the Americas. It was thus re-named Royal Poinciana in his honour.
He had a Town Hall erected in Basseterre in what is now known as Church Street. This served as his administrative centre, where he dispensed justice and administered the colony.
When the French king sent De Thoissy to relieve him, de Poincy refused to let him land. Eventually de Thoissy was sent back to France in chains. The Capuchins were also expelled at this time for taking the side of de Thoissy. The Jesuits were invited in to take their place. De Poincy bought the nearby island of St Croix, which he bequeathed to the Knights of St John.
When de Poincy died at the age of 77, he was buried in Basseterre, probably in the grounds of what is now St George's church. He is credited with turning Bassterre into a successful Caribbean trading port. The annual Saint Kitts carnival troupe, Les Actors, are people descended from a troupe of Acrobats from Africa whom he had imported to Saint Kitts as his slaves and personal performers for parties at La Fontaine.
| Government offices | ||
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| Preceded by René de Bécualt, sieur de La Grange Formenteau |
Governor of Saint-Christophe 1639–1644 |
Succeeded by Robert Lonvilliers de Poincy |
| Preceded by Robert Lonvilliers de Poincy |
Governor of Saint-Christophe 1646–1660 |
Succeeded by Charles de Sales |
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