Between 1896 and 1899, this young poet composed more than 160 poems that brought him lasting fame. Born in Montréal, he grew up near here, on rue Laval. After publishing his first poems in local newspapers, he abandoned his studies at the age of 18 and devoted himself to his writing. On May 26, 1899, at Château de Ramezay, he gave a celebrated reading of “La romance du vin” for the École littéraire de Montréal. Only three months later, he was committed to an asylum. He remained in a psychiatric institution until his death. Nelligan’s poems first appeared in book form in 1904, thanks to his friend and mentor Louis Dantin.