Daniel de Rémy de Courcelle

Who was Daniel de Rémy de Courcelle?

Daniel de Rémy de Courcelle, Sieur de Montigny, de La Fresnaye et de Courcelle was the governor general of New France from 1665 to 1672.

Daniel de Rémy had the Carignan-Salières Regiment and their Lieutenant General Alexander de Prouville, Sieur de Tracy at his command when he arrived in Canada. Through Alexander de Prouville and by personal expeditions, he carried out an aggressive war against the Iroquois peoples.

His main contributions to the colony during his tenure were the actions he took to resolve conflicts amongst the various Indian tribes and to raise the status of the French within the native societies. This promoted peace for New France and retained substantial fur trade that was in danger of being taken over by the Dutch and the English. He also approved Robert La Salle's plan to mount expeditions to seek a western passage to China.

He was instrumental in upgrading the judicial procedures of the colony along with Intendent Jean Talon and, acting on the orders of Louis XIV, he established militia units in New France. This militia would be instrumental in the colony’s future wars.