MONTS, Pierre du Guast, pear dii ga mon, French colonist in North America: b. Saintonge, France, about 1560; d. Paris, 1611. He was of an Italian family and educated in the Roman Catholic faith, but became a Pro testant, fought on the Protestant side in the wars of religion, and was made governor of Pons in Saintonge. He made several voyages to America, and is believed to have accom panied Chauvin's expedition of 1600. In 1603 he was appointed lieutenant-general with vice regal authority of a company of colonists to whom Acadia had been granted, a territory which included the present maritime provinces of Canada, and part of the province of Quebec and the greater part of New England. He sailed from Havre in 1604 with Samuel Cham plain and the colonists, and after exploring the Bay of Fundy discovered Annapolis Basin, which they called Port Royal, and then explored and named Saint John River. He established a
colony at Saint Croix and at Port Royal and then returned to France, but his patent for colonization was canceled in 1607, and after ward renewed for a year. At his own expense he sent relief to his colonists and assisted Charn plain and Pontgrave to make a voyage to the Saint Lawrence in 1607; and Quebec was founded by explorers aided by him in 1608. He lost favor at court upon the death of Henry IV. The date of his death is uncertain. Consult Lescarbot, 'Histo of New France' in the Champlain Society' edition, edited by Grant and Biggar (3 vols., Toronto, 1907-14) • Park man, 'Pioneers of France in the New World' (1865) ; and 'Tercentenary of De Moms' Settle ment at Saint Croix Island' (Maine Historical Society's publications, Portland 1905).