Simon-Gérard de La Place

Simon-Gérard de La Place (1657–1 January 1699)efn-ua|de La Place was baptised Jean de la Place on 16 August 1657 at Rouen. He was the second child of 18 of Pierre de La Place and Marie Le Couteux. He is sometimes referred to, incorrectly, as Simon Girard de La Place.

Missionary La Place was baptised with the name Jean at Rouen in Normandy in August 1657 and joined the Recollets in south-west France between 1673 and 1675. He was ordained in September 1679 at Sens in Yonne, taking the name Simon-Gérard on joining the order. At some point after 1688, La Place was sent to Meductic in what is now New Brunswick as a missionary to the Maliseet First Nation. He was the first known missionary in the area of the Saint John River.

La Place was considered a skilled missionary, and as a man who "might be relied on, he being a very honest man". He is frequently mentioned in the writings of John Gyles in favourable terms.

Role in King William's War After initially having little to do with the events of the King William's War, La Place began to take an active role in 1696, coordinating the movements of Maliseet warriors. During the same year he took part in the French-led expedition against English forces at Pemaquid as chaplain to 150 Maliseet fighters, leading a group of 50 warriors during the successful capture of the English fort.

Death During late 1698 La Place fell out of favour with Villebon after he complained about the behaviour of two of the Governor's brothers who he considered were engaged in relationships with young First Nation women. Villebon asked for La Place to be replaced, His body was taken to Quebec, where it was met by 4,000 mourners led by Marquis de la Roche-Mesgouez, the Lieutenant General of New France, and buried in a Recollet church in the city.

Two of Simon-Gérard's brothers, Eustache and Louis-Hyacinthe de La Place, also joined the Recollets.