Marc Lescarbot
Lescarbot, Marc
Marc Lescarbot, lawyer, author (b at Vervins, France c 1570; d in France 1642). A Paris lawyer, Lescarbot sailed for ACADIA in May 1606 at the invitation of one of his clients, colonizer Jean de BIENCOURT DE POUTRINCOURT. He remained there until the summer of 1607, when the colony was abandoned after the revocation of its trading monopoly. Based at PORT-ROYAL, Lescarbot travelled widely in Acadia and took a keen interest in the problems and opportunities of North American colonization as well as the way of life of the region's native peoples. His insights were set down in several published works, most notably his Histoire de la Nouvelle-France (1609).
Besides being a vivid account of early colonizing attempts in Acadia, the Histoire is a remarkable plea for realism in harvesting the colony's natural resources, as against a futile search for quick profits. Also a poet and playwright, Lescarbot presented his Théâtre de Neptune at Port-Royal in 1606, reputedly the first theatrical production in North America. After returning to France in 1607, Lescarbot resumed his law practice, but his interest in the progress of Acadian colonization was lifelong.
Port-Royal
Port-Royal, Nova Scotia, established by Champlain in 1605, was the centre of Acadian life. This reconstruction is a national historic park (photo by Bill Brooks/Masterfile).
Théâtre de Neptune
First play in Canada, 1606, imaginary reconstruction by C.W. Jeffreys, pen and black ink over pencil on cardboard (National Archives of Canada/C-106968).
Author JOHN G. REID
Suggested Reading
Marc Lescarbot, The History of New France, ed W.L. Grant (1907-14); John G. Reid, Acadia, Maine, and New Scotland (1981).
Links to Other Sites
Port-Royal National Historic Site of Canada
This national historic site features a reconstruction of early 17th- century buildings representing the former colony of the French who settled for a time along the Nova Scotia coast. Costumed interpreters and period demonstrations help recreate the look and feel of Port-Royal, one of the earliest settlements in North America. A Parks Canada website.
Marc Lescarbot
A biography of Marc Lescarbot, 17th century lawyer, traveler, and writer. Author of “Théâtre de Neptune,” the first theatrical production in North America. From “The Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online.”
Recorded memory of theatre life in Nova Scotia
This extensive site offers a mosaic of interviews, profiles, digitized archival material, and other items that relate to the history of theatre in Halifax and other Nova Scotia communities. Requires a flash plugin to be properly viewed. From the Dalhousie University Archives.
1612 history of New France heads to auction block
A news story about the auction of Marc Lescarbot's map of Canada that was published in 1612. From canada.com.
The Dominion government's advertisement asked for volunteers "able to read and write either the English or French language" with "good antecedents" who were good horsemen...
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