Isle Saint-Jean or Île Saint-Jean () was a French colony in

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that existed from 1713 to 1763 on what is today

Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island is an island Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. While it is the smallest province by land area and population, it is the most densely populated. The island has several nicknames: "Garden of the Gulf", ...

as part of the wider colony of

Acadia Acadia (; ) was a colony of New France in northeastern North America which included parts of what are now the The Maritimes, Maritime provinces, the Gaspé Peninsula and Maine to the Kennebec River. The population of Acadia included the various ...

Colony Formation

After 1713,

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

engaged in a reaffirmation of its territory in Maritime North America. Besides the construction of Acadian settlement of

Louisbourg Louisbourg is an unincorporated community and former town in Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. History The harbour had been used by European mariners since at least the 1590s, when it was known as English Port and Havre à l'An ...

Cape Breton Island Cape Breton Island (, formerly '; or '; ) is a rugged and irregularly shaped island on the Atlantic coast of North America and part of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The island accounts for 18.7% of Nova Scotia's total area. Although ...

, France was resolved to organize a colony on Isle Saint-Jean. The beginning of the colony was slow, with only 297 inhabitants by 1728. During the years 1740–1750, hundreds of

Acadians The Acadians (; , ) are an ethnic group descended from the French colonial empire, French who settled in the New France colony of Acadia during the 17th and 18th centuries. Today, most descendants of Acadians live in either the Northern Americ ...

fled

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and Population of Canada by province and territory, most populous province in Atlan ...

, which had been conquered by the British in 1713, to exile themselves on this island. The colony population increased to 4,000 inhabitants by 1755.

Deportation

After Louisbourg had fallen to the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

on July 26, 1758, during the

French and Indian War The French and Indian War, 1754 to 1763, was a colonial conflict in North America between Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and Kingdom of France, France, along with their respective Native Americans in the United States, Native American ...

, the order of deportation was given two weeks later to the Acadians of Isle Saint-Jean, and the Ile Saint-Jean Campaign began. The British authorities had decided to forgo the initiative to assimilate them in the British colonies, and wanted them returned to France. Around 4,600 Acadiens lived on Isle Saint-Jean. In August 1758, 3,100 inhabitants were captured and deported to France. Others succeeded in hiding or fleeing. Of the twelve ships used to transport the Acadians, three sank; Duke William (364 died), Violet (280 died) and (213 died). In all, 1,649 Acadians, around 53% of the total number deported, died from drowning or diseases.R.R. Palmer, ''A History of the Modern World'' 2nd ed. 1961, p. 234. In 1763, France ceded the ''Isle Saint-Jean'' officially to Great Britain, with the Treaty of Paris.

Notes

References

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External links

Carrefour de l'Isle-Saint-Jean
Acadian history New France Geography of Prince Edward Island Pre-Confederation Prince Edward Island