Sieur de la Palme


The Sieur de la Palme was the Governor of Plaisance in the New-France colony in Newfoundland from 1667 to 1670.
In 1667, the King of France, Louis XIV, learns of the irresponsible behaviour of the previous governor Bellot dit Lafontaine. An official document indicates that Bellot had "fulfilled his duty badly". Louis XIV, frustrated with his governor, immediately recalls him to France. The king names le sieur La Palme as the new governor at Plaisance.
La Palme arrives to Newfoundland on board the ship "Saint-Sébastien". He received the mission from the King, to help populating the colony of Plaisance, to encourage agriculture and to protect the numerous French fishers. The new governor disembarks at Plaisance with 150 soldiers and numerous supplies, notably weapons stored in two warships that accompanied him from France.
La Palme builds fortifications around Plaisance to protect from an possible attack from the English.
However, La Palme displeases the colonists with shows of authoritarianism. He demands one third of the fish caught from the fishermen in exchange for provisions. Finally, the King relieves him from his administrative functions in 1670 and replaces him with a new governor named La Poippe.