People of significance

In 1621, James I of England and VI of Scotland granted Sir William Alexander, a Scottish noble, a charter for New Scotland - “Nova Scotia” - to establish a Scottish colony in North America.

Claude Saint-Étienne de La Tour came to what was then Acadia with his son, Charles, in 1610 to help settle Port-Royal.

In 1628, de La Tour was captured by the English during a voyage from France to Cap Sable, where his son had built a fur trading post called Fort Lomeron (later renamed Fort La Tour although identified as Fort Saint-Louis in the writings of Samuel de Champlain), and was taken to England as a prisoner.  Expecting Acadia would be lost to the English due to French neglect, he decided to side with the English, providing information about Acadia and assisting with plans to colonize "New Scotland."  In return, he was named a Baronet of Nova Scotia.

In 1630, he and his English wife joined a group of colonists and sailed for Cap Sable, expecting his son to join him in siding with the English in return for a title and other honours. However, Charles refused and his father led an attack on the fort which failed. Claude then had little choice but to accompany the other colonists to Port-Royal which was now under English control.

He later wrote to his son asking to be permitted to join him at Cap Sable. Surprisingly, Charles agreed but forced his father to take up residence outside the fort.

Charles de Menou d'Aulnay (ca. 1604–1650) was an eminent French sea captain who played a key role in the settlement of Acadia. He commanded La Hève (LaHave) and Port-Royal in 1636 and became governor of Acadia in 1647.

Over a fourteen-year period, he oversaw the construction of forts, mills and schools and ventured into shipbuilding. He drained marshes with a system of dykes and tide gates, enabling settlers to survive through agriculture.

One of the great architects of French settlement in Canada, D'Aulnay was designated a person of national historic significance in 1972 and is commemorated by a plaque at Fort Anne National Historic Site.