François Byssot de la Rivière (1612 or 1613 –1673) was an early figure in the New World, his presence being recorded at Île-aux-Ruaux in 1639 when the Jesuits took possession of the property.
Byssot was active in a number of pursuits and his name is associated with some of the earliest land grants and was also a person of note in seigneurial justice.
In 1661, he received, from the Compagnie des Cent-Associés, a concession in what is now Labrador.
He constructed the first tannery and was granted some other important concessions in both fishing and harvesting seals.
He had twelve children, two of whom, Jean-Baptiste and François-Joseph, attained some notability in Canadian history.