Vauquelin was a captain in the French navy who distinguished himself during the Siege of Louisbourg and the Battle of Neuville during the Seven Years' War.

On June 5, 1933, then-mayor Fernand Rinfret unveiled a plaque to commemorate Jacques Viger, the city's first mayor.

[citation needed] In 1966, the square was refurbished into its current shape and the monument was moved slightly further north.

Until then, vehicular traffic had been permitted on either side of the statue between Notre Dame Street and the Champ-de-Mars.

In 2017, the Vauquelin square was reinaugurated following a restoration by Lemay for the 375th anniversary of Montreal, resulting in a redeveloped fountain and pool, urban furniture integration, planted trees, lighting and other landscape components.