Jean-Baptiste-Louis Franquelin

Who is Jean-Baptiste-Louis Franquelin?

Jean-Baptiste-Louis Franquelin was born at Saint-Michel de Villebernin, France in 1651. He died in France around 1712. He was a cartographer, a royal hydrographer, and a teacher of navigation. He was also the first official cartographer in Canada.

Between 1674 and 1708, Franquelin drew around 50 detailed illustrated manuscript maps of New France. Franquelin came to Canada as a trader in 1671. Canadian Governor Frontenac recognized his talents and recruited him to draw maps of Canada. He recorded the explorations of Louis Jolliet and Cavelier de La Salle between 1674 and 1684. The French King appointed him royal hydrographer in 1688. He went to France in 1692 to complete a series of maps on the New England coast. He had 13 children, but unfortunately, his wife and ten of his children drowned in a shipwreck in 1693. He held his Canadian appointment from 1686 to 1697 and again from 1701 to 1703. However, from 1694 to 1707, he worked for Louis XIVth military engineer Vauban, and never returned to Canada.