Date Published:
April 2005

L’Encyclopédie de l’histoire du Québec / The Quebec History Encyclopedia

Henri de Lévis

Duc de Ventadour

Ventadour, Henri de Lévis, Duc de (1596-1651), viceroy of Canada (1625-31), was born in the castle of Moustier Ventadour, near Tulle, Corrèze, France, in 1596. After serving in the army, he took holy orders; and in 1625 he bought from his uncle, Henri, Duc de Montmorency, the vice-royalty of Canada, with the object of furthering the Canadian missions. It was through him that the Jesuits came to Canada. Shortly after the Company of New France was organized in 1627, the Duc de Ventadour was compelled to relinquish his office of viceroy; but he continued throughout his life to interest himself in the Jesuit missions in Canada. He died in Paris, France, in 1651. Pointe Lévis, or Lévy, opposite Quebec, was named after him.

Source  : W. Stewart Wallace, ed., The Encyclopedia of Canada, Vol. VI, Toronto, University Associates of Canada, 1948, 398p., p. 233.