From Wikipedia

Jean Talon, Comte d'Orsainville (January 8, 1626 – November 23, 1694) was the first Intendant of New France. Talon was appointed by King Louis XIV and his minister, Jean-Baptiste Colbert to serve as the Intendant of Justice, Public Order and Finances in Canada, Acadia and Newfoundland for two terms: 1665 to 1668 and 1670 to 1672.

Talon attempted to change the economic base of the colony from fur-trading to agriculture, but found this could not be accomplished without a larger population. Talon arranged for settlers to come to New France, including over 1,000 women known as the filles du roi – the king's daughters. These were young orphans that came to New France to marry men present there. He encouraged population growth through marriage grants and baby bonuses, which was financial compensation given to a couple when they married, and again when they had children.

Talon also tried to diversify the economy by introducing new crops such as flax and hops for making beer, by starting a shipyard and lumber industry, and by encouraging mining.

Talon's life before New France

Jean Talon was born in Châlons-en-Champagne to Philippe Talon and Anne Marie de Bury on January 8, 1626. He was baptized on August 1, 1626. His family was related to the Parisian Talons, who held in succession the high office of attorney-general of France. After studying at the Jesuits' College of Clermont, Talon was employed in a commissariat. His abilities soon became apparent and when he was thirty, he was promoted to the position of Intendant for the province of Hainault.

When an Intendant was needed for the task of bringing the dying New France back to life, Colbert, an administrator of France, thought immediately of Jean Talon and recommended him to the king. Talon's commission is dated March 23, 1665.

From Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 1:

TALON, JEAN (called at one time Talon Du Quesnoy), intendant of New France 1665–68 and 1670–72; b. at Châlons-sur-Marne, in Champagne, where he was baptized 8 Jan. 1626, son of Philippe Talon and Anne de Bury (or Burry, but not Beuvy); d. November 1694 in France.

Links

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Notes

• Lieux info: Champagne, France (naissance), Paris, Isle de France, France (décès); en Nouvelle-France, il habitait à Québec
• Pionnier de la Nouvelle-France. Arrive au Québec le 12 septembre 1665 à bord du Saint Sébastien.
• Jean Talon fut le 1er Intendant de la Nouvelle-France 'sur place'. (Louis Robert de la Fortelle a été le premier indendant sur papier mais ne s'est jamais rendu au Québec.)
• Jean Talon a donné en concession de nombreuses seigneurie au Québec.
• Postes Canada a émis un timbre en l'honneur de Talon en 1962.

Autres Notes

(Wikipédia)

Jean Talon, né le 8 janvier 1626 à Châlons (paroisse Notre-Dame-en-Vaux) (France) et mort le 23 novembre 1694 à Paris (paroisse Saint-Sulpice) (France), est connu principalement comme étant le premier intendant de Nouvelle-Francenote. À son arrivée en Nouvelle-France, on lui concéda quelques titres locaux, ceux de baron des Îlets et de comte d'Orsainville.