Paul de Chomedey, Sieur de Maisoneuve (1612-1676), was a French explorer and colonizer in Canada and the founder of Montreal. He also administered the settlement until it was taken over by a royal governor.

Paul de Chomedey de Maisoneuve was born in Champagne, the son of a prominent seigneur. After he had a short career in the army, his path crossed that of a group of French philanthropists and Jesuits who wanted to establish a missionary town in New France (Canada) to work for the conversion of the Native Americans. This group had founded the Société Notre-Dame de Montréal and were looking for a military-civilian leader who would direct the overseas operation. The society would recruit, finance, and buttress the proposed town in New France; Maisoneuve would lead it.

Maisoneuve arrived in Canada in the autumn of 1641, too late to do anything about...