Date Published:
July 2007

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

Nicolas Denys

Denys, Nicolas (1598-1688), trader and author, was born in Tours, France, in 1598. In 1633 he became interested in Acadia; and from that date until about 1671 be was almost continuously engaged in its exploïtation. In 1654 be was appointed governor of the coasts and islands of the Gulf of St. Lawrence from Canso to Gaspé, as well as of Newfoundland. He returned to France in 1671, and there published his Description géographique et historique des costes de l'Amérique septentrionale (2 vols., Paris, 1672). In 1685 he came back to Acadia; and he died, probably at his post of Nepisiguit, in 1688. See W. F. Ganong (ed.), The description and natural history of the coasts of North America (Acadia), by Nicolas Denys (Toronto, The Champlain Society, 1908).

Source: W. Stewart WALLACE, The Encyclopedia of Canada, Vol. II, Toronto, University Associates of Canada, 1948, 411p., p. 199.