Jean de Biencourt de Poutrincourt et de Saint-Just

Jean de Biencourt de Poutrincourt et de Saint-Just (Jean Biencourt, Baron of Poutrincourt and Saint-Just) (1557–1615) was a member of the French nobility best remembered as a commander of the French colonial empire, one of those responsible for establishing the most successful among early attempts to establish a permanent settlement in the North American territory that became known as Acadia, a region of New France.

[1] He made his first voyage to the New World in 1604 as a senior member of the expedition led by Pierre Dugua de Mons that established a colony, first on Saint Croix Island but which moved after one winter to build a new settlement in 1605 at Port-Royal.

Because of political opposition at home, de Mons decided to remain in France and appointed Poutrincourt governor of Port Royal in 1606.

[2] In addition to the title, de Mons granted him ownership of the land in and around the colony, along with fur-trading privileges and fishing rights.

The inclusion of the fur-trading rights was particularly important to Poutrincourt's fortunes in the early years of the colony.