Louis Fornel

Louis Fornel was a French merchant, entrepreneur, explorer, and seigneur at Quebec, New France.

Judicial records from Quebec shows scattered references to Fornel’s disputes with ship’s captains and merchants concerning bills of exchange, items of cargo, and freight payments: evidence of his involvement to an indeterminable extent in maritime commerce. However, his career and family’s position among the Quebec community indicates he was successful in his business.

From 1730s Louis turned his attention to the sealing industry of the Labrador coast. In 1737, Louis had together with François Havy and Jean Lefebvre invested in an undeveloped sealing station at Chateau Bay on the Strait of Belle Isle, belonging to concessionaire Louis Bazil. This enterprise proved to be unprofitable, and as arly as 1742 Fornel was beseeching the local authorities and Maurepas, minister of Marine, to grant him the post upon expiration of Bazil’s concession in 1745. Fornel ‘s main argument was that he could use the post to help extend French trade to the Eskimos.

Fornel invested his money in real estate, an almost invariably safe investment in the uncertain business world of the 18th century. He was also granted a seigneury, on 14 May 1741, directly behind the seigneury of Neuville, which he named Bourg-Louisand immediately began to develop it.

Louis Fornel died on 30 May 1745 only 47 years of age. His business was continued by his widow Marie-Anne Barbel who was well versed in business affairs.