Chronology of the history of Montreal

The Western Indies

1453 - Catch of Constantinople by the Othoman Turks and closing of the access road of Venice to the Indies;
1492 - Discovered of the Western Indies by Christophe Colomb;
1497 - Voyage of the Italian Giovanni Caboto towards the Western Indies;
1500 - Explorations of the Western Indies by Corte Real;
1508 - Voyage of Thomas Aubert de Dieppe in Newfoundland;
1524 - Exploration of the Atlantic coast of the Western Indies, by Giovanni da Verrazano, in particular the area of New York;
1534 - Discovered of the Western Indies (or Canada) by Jacques Cartier. Arrival with Gaspé;

Jacques Cartier with the Royal Mount

1535 - Arrival of Jacques Cartier in Hochelaga and baptism of the Royal Mount;
1541 - Foundation of Charlesbourg-Royal (now Bridge-Red) by Jacques Cartier;
1541 - Return of Jacques Cartier to the 3 saults of Sault-with-Récollet;
1542 - Come from Sieur the Roberval one with Charlesbourg-Royal which it renames France-Roy;
1544 - Publication of the SPEECH OF VOYAGE, memory of the first voyage (1534) of Jacques Cartier;
1545 - Publication of the BRIEF ACCOUNT, memory of the second voyage (1535-36) of Jacques Cartier;
1556 - Publication in Venice of 3rd volume DELLE NAVIGATIONI AND VIAGGI (and plan Terra de Hochelaga) by G.B. Ramusio;
1560 - Assassination of Jean-François Rocque, sior the Roberval one in Paris;
1565 - Second republication of 3rd volume DELLE NAVIGATIONI AND VIAGGI per G.B. Ramusio;
1580 - Publication in English of 1st and 2nd voyages by Giovanni Florio using 3rd volume DELLE NAVIGATIONI AND VIAGGI;
1585 - Arrival of Jacques Christmas, great nephew of Jacques Cartier, with Sault-with-Récollet;
1588 - Granting by Henri 111 of the monopoly of the trade of the Western Indies with Jacques Christmas and Chaton of Jaunaye;
1593 - Construction by Venice de PalmaNova (New City on the model of the Hochelaga village);
1597 - Promulgation of the Edict of Nantes facilitating the trade overseas with the Protestant ports, such that of the La Rochelle;
1598 - Publication of! er travels of Jacques Cartier by Raphael of the Small Valley starting from 3rd volume DELLE NAVIGATIONI AND VIAGGI;
1599 - Attribution by Henri IV in Chauvinistic, commercial Pierre of Honfleur the monopoly of the draft of the furs in News-France.
1600 - Publication in English of the 3rd voyage (1540) of Jacques Cartier by Richard Hakluyt starting from work DELLE NAVIGATIONI AND VIAGGI;
1603 - Following the death of Chauvinistic Pierre, attribution per Henri IV of the monopoly of the draft of the furs with Aymar de Chaste, governor of Dieppe.

Samuel de Champlain in the island of the Royal Mount

1603 - On order of Aymar de Chaste, come from Engraved François and the cartographer Samuel de Champlain in Sault Saint-Louis (river of the Meadows) -
1603 - Agreement by Samuel de Champlain and Engraved François of support to Huron and Algonquins in war against Iroquois;
1604 - Concession of the draft of the fur to the Company Pierre Dugua of Mons;
1606 - Third republication of 3rd volume DELLE NAVIGATIONI AND VIAGGI per G.B. Ramusio;
1608 - Foundation of Quebec by Sieur Samuel de Champlain;
1610 - Assassination of the king Henri IV by Christian fanatics;
1611 - Crossing of Samuel de Champlain of the island of the Royal Mount (some 24 miles) since the river of the Meadows;
1611 - Following the crossing of the island, choice of Royal Place (future site of City-Marie) by Samuel de Champlain;
1613 - Concession of the draft of the fur to the Company of the Merchants;
1613 - New arrival of Samuel de Champlain with Sault-with-Récollet and Royal Place;
1613 - the First exploration of the interior of the WESTERN INDIES, in Huronnie, by Samuel de Champlain;
1615 - Arrival of Récollets in Canada and the river of the Meadows;
1615 - Celebration of the first mass to the river of the Meadows by the récollets Denis Jamet and Joseph Charon, it in the presence of Samuel de Champlain;
1615 - the Second exploration of the WESTERN INDIES, in Huronnie, by Samuel de Champlain;
1625 - Drowning of Nicolas Viel, récollet, and Ahuntsic with Sault-with-Récollet;
1625 - Arrival of the Jesuits in Canada, to replace Récollets;
1627 - Concession of the draft of the fur to the Company of the Hundred Associated by the cardinal of Richelieu;
1628 - Catch of the La Rochelle by the troops of the cardinal of Richelieu;
1629 - Catch of Quebec by the Kirke Brothers and exile of Samuel de Champlain in England;
1632 - Retrocession of Quebec by England and return of Samuel de Champlain;
1635 - Death, on December 25th, of Samuel de Champlain;
1639 - Construction theHuron ones by the Jesuits;

Foundation of City-Marie

1642 - Establishment of City-Marie in Royal Place by Sieur de Maisonneuve under the initiative of Jerome Royer of Dauversière in the name of the Company of Notre-Dame of Montreal;
1643 - Installation of a cross on the Royal Mount, Crowned Mountain, by Sieur Chomedy de Maisonneuve;
1644 : Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve concedes with Jeanne Mance, a laic nurse, a ground of 200 arpents which has 4 arpents of face in edge of the St. Lawrence river.
1645 : Construction of the Hospital Saint-Joseph (future Hospital of Montreal) on the ground conceded in Jeanne Mance. It is the first hospital in North America.
1646 : The war with the Iroquois, which lasts until 1653, involves the depopulation of the south of the Ontario and stops the draft of furs.
1649 - Arrival of Huron in escape at the height of the Mountain and at the height Lorette following the destruction theHuron ones;
1653 : Jeanne Mance goes in France and succeeds in recruiting 95 new colonists in an attempt to save the colony of the economic bankruptcy. This episode is known like “the Great Recruit”.
1654 : Outaouais come to make trade in Montreal for the first time.
1658 : Marguerite Middle-class man, arrived of France in 1653, opens a school in a stable given by Maisonneuve. It founds the Congrégation of Notre-Dame of Montreal and will make soon set up a convent and the vault Our-Lady-with-Bonsecours.
1660 : The population of the island of Montreal is estimated at 407 inhabitants. Pierre-Spirit Radisson and Medard Chouart of the Currant bushes escorts 60 boats from the Countries of in-High to Montreal.
1661 : The Sulpiciens, the lords of the island, set up their residence, on the street Saint-Paul.
1663 : The seminar of Saint-Sulpice of Paris acquires the island and takes again the administration of the involved in debt colony of City-Marie.
1672 : François Dollier de Casson, the superior of Sulpiciens, establishes a plan of the city. It traces the street Notre-Dame in top of the Saint-Louis slope and begins there the construction of the first church in masonry and an adjacent seminar. He undertakes also the first work for the channel of Lachine.
1685 - Construction of the Fort of the Mountain by the sulpician Vachon de Belmont;
1685 : The seminar of Sulpiciens (lords of the island) adjacent to the Notre-Dame church (finished in 1682) is supplemented on the street Notre-Dame which attracts soon the middle-class residences and the religious institutions.
1689 - Beginning of construction with Sault-with-Récollet Strong Lorette by the sulpician Vachon de Belmont;
1692 : The Jesuits build their convent close to the place Jacques-Cartier and the récollets set up theirs close to the western limits of the city.
1696 - Transfer of the Huron converts of the Fort of the Mountain at the height Lorette;
1701 : The Grande peace of Montreal with the people autochtones opens in Montreal all the continent, because the development of the West can finally progress unconstrained.
1705 : Since the civil capacity represented by the governor takes importance with the passing of years, its residence, the castle of Ramezay, is built on the street Notre-Dame, the highest point of the Saint-Louis slope.
1706 : The place of Weapons of origin (the current Royal place) is the first center of the commercial activity and is officially indicated place of the Market.
1716 : Montreal being also a garrison town, one starts to set up stone fortifications to protect it from the Britanniques.
1721 : Montreal is devastated by a large fire. One prohibits construction timber in the strengthened city.
1734 : Montreal is devastated by a large fire.
1741 : The increasingly intensive use of the place of the Market (current Royal place) by the soldiers involves conflicts which push the garrison towards an open space left in the north of the Notre-Dame church and called place of the High-City. This new place then takes its current name of place of Weapons.

Beginnings of the English Mode

1760 : British conquest of New France. Imposition of a military regime. Management of the draft of the furs by merchants British.
1763 : Treaty of Paris. Transfer of Canada in England. Royal British proclamation.
1764 : Administration of the justice by English governors which settles in the residence of the Jesuits, close to the residence of the governor on the street Notre-Dame.
1765 : Montreal is devastated by a large fire.
1774 : Act of Quebec - Reopening of the tank furrier of the Big lakes to the tradesmen montréalais.
1782 : The creation of the Compagnie of the North-West makes of Montreal the capital of the draft of the furs, and the years 1791 to 1821 mark the apogee of this activity.
1783 : American independence comes to cut all the South to the British merchants who reorientate their activities towards the west of the country.

Commercial Capitalism: 1790-1850

1791 : Proclamation of the Constitutional Law. Division of Canada in two provinces: Low-Canada and High-Canada. State on three levels of decision: an Executive council, a Legislative council and a Room of assembly. Maintenance of the discrétionnaire capacity of the governor. Beginnings in Montreal of popular constestations.
1792 : Schedule delimiting the city in district for electoral end. The territory includes a vast square ranging between the river and the current streets Atwater, Duluth and Frontenac. Integration of the peripheral territories located out of the city strengthened at the city.
1799 : Closing of the two adjacent cemeteries to the Notre-Dame church in order to increase the place of Weapons to the trade.
1800 : The administration of justice is installed in the first Law courts, on the site of current Vieux Law courts.
1801 : The government names three police chiefs to establish a plan of the city and authorizes the demolition of the old obsolete fortifications which harm the intra-urban trade and limit the access to the port.
1805 : The first aqueduct of Montreal is born in the old city. This rudimentary system uses spring waters of the mountain and the wood pipes which must be replaced in 1816 at the same time as one installs a hydrant in the river.
1809 : John Molson organizes a vapor service between Quebec and Montreal to tow the sailing ships in the difficult channel of the the St. Lawrence. The first is Accommodation in 1809, and since 1819 seven vapors are used to with it for the towing.
1817 : The first bank of the city, the Bank of Montreal, is born and it is followed by several others.
1817 : One begins the demolition of the fortifications which will be finished in 1825.
1820: Formation of the Merchants' Exchange .
1821 : Fusion of the Company of the North-West based in Montreal, with the Company of Hudson Bay based in bay, in consequence of the armed confrontations brought by competition. The important trade of the the United Kingdom with the west of the country, furs and local provisioning, is then diverted by the shorter road of Hudson Bay.
1822 : Creation of the Committee off Trade which will become in 1842 the Board off Trade , the British chamber of commerce.
1824 : Opening of the Channel of Lachine.
1825 : The opening of the Érié channel between Buffalo and New York diverts the remainder of the trade of the fur of Montreal. Wood, the corn and the potash become little by little the new engines of the saving in export.
1829 : One finishes the construction of the current Notre-Dame church, started in 1824. It is set up more in the south than the old set fire to church, releasing the place of Weapons which will find its full expansion when one demolishes the old bell-tower in 1843.
1830: Creation of the Commission of the port.
1832 : Montreal becomes the official input port of the goods towards the colony. A customs house is built on the place Royale in 1838.
1832: Opening of the Exchange Coffee House on the street Saint-Paul.
1832 : A new company takes again the aqueduct and installs 18 km of iron pipes.

Incorporation of the town of Montreal

1833 : The first incorporation of the town of Montreal and nomination by the council of Jacques Viger as mayor;
1833 : Adoption of the ARMORIAL BEARINGS of the town of Montreal;
1835 : The english-speaking become majority in Montreal.
1836 : The Place of Weapons is acquired by the City.
1836 : The first railway of the country, long, 23 km connects the Meadow to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu to supplement the road of navigation Montreal - New York by the lake Champlain.
1840 : Union Top and Low-Canada.
1840 : Second and permanent charter of the town of Montreal and nomination of Peter McGill as mayor
1842: One founds a service of diligence between Montreal and Lachine.
1843 : Opening of the Channel of Chambly which opens the road of the Lac Champlain with modern navigation.
1845 : The Place of Weapons takes form whereas the City closes space and paves the streets which surround it.
1845 : One creates by payment the first force of municipal police.
1845 : The City repurchases the network of aqueduct that it rapièce and lengthens somewhat, but the two large fires of 1852 will prove the deficiency of the system.
1846 : The adoption of free trade by the the United Kingdom involves the end of protection for Canadian corn and wood, and brings the closing of the mills to flour and a reorientation of the trade towards the United States without passing by Montreal.
1846 : The telegraph connects Montreal to Toronto.
1847 : One inaugurates the Montreal-Lachine railway which leads to the starting point of the boats towards the West. The terminus is built with the Chaboillez public garden.
1848 : Opening of the first Sea route of the St. Lawrence.
1849 : The building of the market Holy-Anne which is used as Parliament since 1843 is burnt at the time of the riots of April 1849 involving the disappearance of important files. These riots are started by tories and Orangistes which refuses a law voted by the Parliament to compensate the civilian victims for the disorders of 1837-1838. The Parliament briefly sits at the Bonsecours market before moving towards Toronto in 1850.

The industrial revolution: 1850-1915

1850 : The Canadian Post offices are created.
1851 : After the dredging of the lake Saint-Pierre, the wearing of Montreal charms in Quebec the title of oceanic port (it is input port with customs since 1832).
1852 : Two large fires devastate the city, particularly the Quebec suburbs, Saint-Louis and the St. Lawrence. One prohibits construction timber in all the city including the suburbs.
1852 : Adoption of the first Canadian currency.
1861 : The first tram montréalais, drawn by horses, serves the old city.
1863 : A private Stock Exchange, Board off Brokers, is created and it will be built-in 1874, forming the Montreal Stock Exchange .
1867 : The French-speaking people become again majority in Montreal.
1872 : The law of the patents is adopted.
1874 : The Montreal Stock Exchange is built-in.
1875 : The Canal of Lachine is hollowed out again with its 4,3 depth meters current gauge.
1876 : Opening of the park of the Royal Mount which supports residential development of the surroundings.
1878 : The regular service of telephone takes up duty to Montreal.
1879 : The Canadian federal government adopts the National policy who wants to ensure the accelerated economic development of Canada by protectionist measurements.
1879 : Inauguration of the railroad Montreal, Quebec, Ottawa and Westerner.
1881 : Creation of the the Canadian Pacific to build a transcontinental railroad of Montreal to the Colombia-British.
1882 : The first working trade union, the Knights of work, an American organization, appears in Montreal.
1886 : Creation of the Chamber of commerce of Montreal to serve the French-speaking companies.
1886 : The first train of the Transcontinental leaves the new Dalhousie station, Berri angle and Notre-Dame bound for Vancouver.
1886 : The Knights of work set up the central Council of the trades and the work of Montreal which gathers soon the whole of the trade-union organizations.
1892 : The electric tram installation of involves the fast extension of the existing network, and supports the urban development towards north, in the axis of the street the St. Lawrence.
1896 : The Boom of corn leaves the country the economic lethargy and involves a new development of the railroads.
1897 : Opening of the Viger station-hotel, Saint-Anthony angle and Berri.
1897 : The first car rolls in the city.
1897 : Inauguration of the hydroelectric station of Lachine Hydraulics & Land Co.
1899 : Creation of the Northern Canadian railroad.

The Apogee of Montreal: 1915-1960

1915 : Inauguration of the building of the Canadian customs with 105, rue McGill.
1916 : The Northern Canadian railroad brings people to the downtown area by a tunnel under the Royal Mont started in 1912.
1918: Canada counts 276.000 cars against only 2000 in 1907.
1921: Creation of the metropolitan Commission to support the dialog enters the cities of the Île of Montreal.
1923 : The Canadian National is formed by the federal government which took again several railroads in bankruptcy of which the Northern Canadian in 1917, then the Large Trunk.
1929 : Beginning of large the Crisis of 1929 -1933. In front of the slow answer of the higher governments, Montreal must organize the help with the unemployed.
1937 : The Canadian government founds the Air lines Trans-Canada (the future Air Canada) and makes of it to a subsidiary company of the Canadian National.
1942 : The University of Montreal moves on the northern side of the Royal mount, and the creation of this important new campus will bring other institutions in its wake.
1943 : Construction of the central station and connection of the disparate lines inherited the old companies failed during the formation of the Canadian National in 1923.
1944: Nationalization of the Montreal Light, Heat & Power which brings the creation of the hydroelectric Commission of Quebec, the future Hydro-Quebec.
1945 : The arrival of the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) and of the IATA (International association of air transport) contributes to make of Montreal the world capital of aviation.
1950 : Creation of the Commission of transport of Montreal starting from the company of the trams that the exproprie City.
1951 : On the model of the shopping American centers , one builds in Montreal the first shopping mall of suburbs, Norgate, on the Décarie boulevard with the angle of Coast-Virtue.
1951 : Widening of the street University in boulevard.
1954 : Widening of the street Dorchester in boulevard.
1954 : With the Dozois plan, the provincial government intends to renovate the Center-ville of Montreal and one leads to the construction of the Jeanne-Mance dwellings.
1958 : Inauguration of the highway of Laurentides.
1959 : Creation of the Corporation of metropolitan Montreal to support the dialog enters the multiple cities of the Île of Montreal.
1959 : Opening of the Sea route of the St. Lawrence. This event is generally perceived like the revolving point supporting the Canadian West on Montreal, but several Canadian policies of the post-war period are also in question, like the Pact of the car in 1965, the subsidies with transport, the Borden line as well as the tariff policies and commercial.
1959 : The City finishes the replacement of the trams by the buses started in 1933.

The Quiet revolution

1960 : Ouvrerture of the Métropolitain boulevard in its section enters the Coast-of-Jubilation and the boulevard Pie IX. Construction of the Décarie exchanger.
1960 : Election of Jean Flag with the town hall. He undertakes a solid reforms municipal administration which will become finally effective.
1960 : Opening of a new air terminal with Dorval. However, the increase in the operating range of the planes makes lose importance with Dorval with the profit of Toronto which supplants Montreal in a few years.
1962 : Opening on the Dorchester boulevard of the head office of the Imperial Bank of trade Canadian, the most building of the British empire.
1962 : The opening of the Place City-Marie starts the development of the new downtown area montréalais and that of the underground city.
1962 : Opening of the Champlain bridge.
1963 : Widening with four ways the Mercier bridge which one raised in 1959.
1963: The town of River-of-Meadows is attached to Montreal.
1963 : Opening of the Place of Arts.
1964 : The village of Saraguay is attached to Montreal.
1965 : The unification of the fourteen municipalities of the Jesus island to form the town of Laval, the second in importance in Quebec, will reinforce the growth of the Laval pole - Bank-North.
1965 : Opening of the highway of the Cantons of the East.
1966 : Opening of the highway and the Louis-H tunnel. - Lafontaine.
1966 : Inauguration of the Subway of Montreal with 25 stations and abandonment of the trolley buses.
1967 : Opening of the highways Décarie and Bonaventure.
1967 : Opening of the Place Bonaventure, intermodal center of transport, hotel and hall of exposures.
1967 : Behavior of the World Fair of Montreal (Expo 67).
1968 : The city of Saint-Michel-of-Laval is attached to Montreal.
1969: The choice by the federal government of Mirabel like site of the future international airport of Montreal saps the hopes to support the development poles in the Montreal-Quebec-Sherbrooke triangle, and that with the profit of Ottawa and the Ontarian east.
1970 : Creation of the Urban community of Montreal, which succeeds ineffective Corporation of metropolitan Montreal created in 1959.
1973: Inauguration of the House of Radio-Canada whose construction devastated the district Center-South.
1973 : In September, the demolition of the house Van Horne involves the creation of Sauvons Montreal, a regrouping of various movements of citizens which will put little by little fine at letting make property developers.
1974 : Opening of the City-Marie highway which leaves an open trench and cuts the Old man-Montreal of the downtown area which became the principal pole of activity during the years 1960.
1975: The opening of the airport of Mirabel tends to support is Ontarian rather than the development poles Québécois.
1976 : The arrival of the Québécois Party to the capacity, on November 15th, accelerates the movement of exodus of the head offices of Montreal.
1977 : The government of Quebec issues a moratorium on highway construction in order to limit urban spreading out to Montreal.
1979 : Montreal sets up the Operation 20.000 residences the purpose of which is of densifier urban fabric while bringing back downtown the young couples.
1979 : The old Latin Quarter is selected for the new campus of the Université from Quebec in Montreal, which contributes to regenerate this sector.
1979 : Coming into effect, on January 1st, of the Law on the protection of the agricultural territory which will contribute to limit, in the medium term, urban spreading out.
1979 : An agreement between the City and the ministry for the cultural Affairs of Quebec on the development of the Old man-Montreal makes it possible to start the restoration of this district to bring back residents and companies there.
1980 : Coming into effect, on January 1st, of the Law on installation and the town planning which obliges the cities to obtain a master line of town planning. Montreal will do it in 1992.
1983: The principal oil refineries of Montreal close.
1983 : Opening of the Palate of the congresses.
1987 : Montreal accommodates the International institute of training in civil aeronautics management.
1988 : Creation of Airports of Montreal to gather the two airports under the same administration.
1988 : Montreal accommodates the SITA (international Société of aeronautical telecommunication) which moves of New York.
1988 : The ministry for Transport of Quebec reveals its Action plan 1988-1998 for the repair and the highway expansion in the metropolitan region. Several sections envisaged will be forsaken because of their impact envisaged on the urban spreading out.

The contemporary city

1990 : The City launches a contest of ideas for the international City of Montreal, a project aiming at redefining the hinge between the downtown area and Old man-Montreal by concentrating there the activities with international character, the Palais of the congresses and the Center of being used world commerce as a basis. This vast project includes/understands the refitting of the ways around the Victoria public garden which will take again its configuration of origin.
1992 : Inauguration in April of the Center of world commerce of Montreal. The vast complex, announced in May 1987 and started at the summer 1988, occupies the north-western small island of the Old man-Montreal.
1992 : Montreal adopts its master line of town planning, conforming to the Law on the installation and the town planning of 1980.
1992: Festivals of the three hundreds - fiftieth birthday of foundation of Montreal. They are the occasion of improvements to the town hall and of the constuction of important annexes (the Complex Chaussegros de Léry). The Champ de Mars is released from the parkings and one arranges a public place there.
1997 : The the Canadian Pacific moves its head office of Montreal with Calgary.
1997 : In March, within the framework of the reorganization of the Canadian Stock Exchanges, the Bourse of Montreal loses its jurisdiction on the actions (manpower on December 3rd).
1999 : In July, the Statistical institute of UNESCO (RESULTING) is created and accommodated within the Université of Montreal.
2000 : Transfer of the international flights of Mirabel to Dorval and beginning of enlarging of Dorval to double the capacity (750 million $).
2002 : The Canal of Lachine is reopened with the pleasure sailing.
2002 : Inauguration, on December 6th, of new the Palate of the congresses doubled in surface.
2004 : Transfer, on November 1st, of the flights of passengers of Mirabel to Dorval.
2005 : Announces final, on March 24th, after long tergiversations, of the site of 1000 Saint-Denis for the future Hospital of the University of Montreal (cost envisaged of 1,1 milliard $).
2005 : Opening in May of the National library of Quebec on the street Saint-Denis.

See too

Chronology of the history of Quebec

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