28 Facts About Jean Talon

Jean Talon arranged for settlers to come to New France, including over 800 women known as the King's Daughters.

Jean Talon encouraged population growth through marriage grants and baby bonuses, which were financial compensation given to a couple when they married, and again when they had children.

Jean Talon tried to diversify the economy of New France by introducing new crops such as flax and hops for making beer, by starting a shipyard and lumber industry, and by encouraging mining.

Jean Talon started the first commercial brewery in Canada, La Brasserie du Roy, in Quebec City in 1668.

Jean Talon worked to increase the population, the agricultural production, and the private sector of the burgeoning colony.

Jean Talon's family was related to the Parisian Talons, who held in succession the high office of attorney-general of France.

Once Jean Talon arrived in New France, his first task was to organize transportation of provisions, ammunition, tool, and supplies for the maintenance of the troops and to take care of incoming soldiers and laborers, making sure that those who contracted disease, received proper nursing and medical attention.

Now that peace was restored, Jean Talon could carry out his works of colonization.

Jean Talon proceeded to fill these dwellings with settlers, trying to have some skilled artisans, such as carpenters, shoemakers, and masons in each village.

Jean Talon seized all the thread on the shops, and gave notice that to acquire thread, they had to exchange it with hemp.

Jean Talon promoted commerce through his introduction of the shipbuilding industry.

Jean Talon encouraged the development of the fishing industry along StLawrence River.

Jean Talon was hard at work in laying the foundation of an economic and political system and making commercial, industrial progresses.

Jean Talon designed the main government buildings, especially the palace, paying special attention to the administration of justice.

Jean Talon wished to make justice speedy, accessible to all and inexpensive.

In 1669 Jean Talon wrote a memorandum in which we find these words: "Justice is administered in the first instance by judges in the seigneuries; then by a lieutenant civil and criminal appointed by the company in each of the jurisdictions of Quebec and Three Rivers; and above all by the Sovereign Council, which is the last instance decides all cases where an appeal lies" Jean Talon attempted to establish a method of settlement out of court.

One of the most important laws established by the Sovereign Council under Jean Talon's guidance was that concerning the importation of liquor and the establishment of the brewing industry.

Jean Talon thought that establishment of breweries in the colony would solve the problem of immoderate use of alcohol.

In 1667, the Sovereign Council inspired by Jean Talon discussed the formation of a company of Canadians to secure the exclusive privilege of trading.

Jean Talon supported the Sovereign Council's decisions in the beginning.

Jean Talon came to consider prohibition of the liquor traffic as a mistake, damaging to the trade and progress of the colony and to French influence over the Native Americans tribes.

Jean Talon had family matters to take care of and he wanted relief from his difficulties with the governor and the spiritual authorities.

Back in France, Jean Talon continued to support the Canadian colony.

Jean Talon wanted to extend French influence to the north, south and west.

Under the authority of a decree of the King's Council of State, Jean Talon gave a large number of seigneuries as grants.

Jean Talon organized the system of seigneuries with a well-defined object, which was to protect and to colonize the country.

Jean Talon had saved the colony from destitution through the implementation of policies that cultivated agriculture, colonization, trade, industry and naval construction.

Jean Talon strengthened the foundation on which justice and government was placed.