author
Jean-B.-A. (Jean-Baptiste-Antoine) Ferland
1805–1865
A 19th-century French Canadian priest and historian, he helped shape early writing on the history of New France and French Canada. His work is remembered for blending careful research with a strong sense of place and national memory.
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by Jean-B.-A. (Jean-Baptiste-Antoine) Ferland
About the author
Born in Montreal on December 25, 1805, he studied at the Collège de Nicolet and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1828. After serving in several parishes, he returned to Nicolet as director of studies and later became superior of the college.
Alongside his religious work, he built a reputation as a serious historian. He traveled widely in eastern Canada, including the Gaspé and Labrador regions, and used those experiences in his historical and descriptive writing. He is especially known for his multi-volume Cours d'histoire du Canada, an important early account of Canadian history from a French Canadian perspective.
He spent his later years in Quebec City, where he continued his scholarly work and served in the bishop's council. He died there on January 11, 1865, and remains a notable figure in the development of Canadian historical writing.