[2] La Place was baptised with the name Jean at Rouen in Normandy in August 1657 and joined the Recollets in south-west France between 1673 and 1675.
[3] He was appointed as a missionary to New France and landed at Quebec on 25 August 1683, initially staying at the Convent of Notre-Dame des Anges.
[11] After initially having little to do with the events of the King William's War, La Place began to take an active role in 1696, coordinating the movements of Maliseet warriors.
[13][14] During late 1698 La Place fell out of favour with Villebon after he complained about the behaviour of two of the Governor's brothers who he considered were engaged in relationships with young First Nation women.
[2][16] His body was taken to Quebec, where it was met by 4,000 mourners led by Marquis de la Roche-Mesgouez, the Lieutenant General of New France, and buried in a Recollet church in the city.