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Expanded History

History of Saint Pierre and Miquelon

From antiquity to the modern era — the historical eras, key events, and narrative that shaped Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

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Overview

Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are a small group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland and Labrador. First settled by the French in the early 17th century, the islands represent the sole remaining vestige of France’s once vast North American possessions. Saint-Pierre was a site for settlement by the French in the early 17th century, later abandoned under the Treaty of Utrecht, and returned to France in 1763 at the end of the Seven Years War. As well, the islands became a place of refuge for Acadian deportees from Nova Scotia. Saint-Pierre figures frequently in North American British-French relations. As well, it profited heavily from US Prohibition, which did not affect this area, technically part of France. It was depopulated and repopulated frequently, and now remains the last vestige of Imperial France within North America. Like its northern neighbour, Newfoundland, it is a key fishing centre close to the Grand Banks, some of the world’s richest fishing grounds. However, as in Newfoundland, the decline in cod stocks has seriously affected the fishery. As a result, tourism is becoming increasingly important to the economy. As a travel destination, St-Pierre et Miquelon is ideal for those interested in historical and cultural discovery, eco-tourism and the French language. Beyond its history, Saint-Pierre et Miquelon is a wonderful destination because of its mild refreshing climate, its beautiful landscapes, the quality of the air and the warmth of its inhabitants. As a part of the European Union, the area has much in common with Europe, but also with its Canadian and American neighbours.

Historical Eras

The major periods of {country}’s history at a glance.

  1. Early Fishing Era

    1520 – 1604

    Basque, Breton, and Norman fishermen frequented the islands as seasonal fishing stations, exploiting the nearby Grand Banks. The islands were named by European explorers, with Miquelon receiving its Basque designation by 1579. No permanent settlements were established, but the archipelago became well known to European maritime powers as a strategic Atlantic outpost.

  2. Early French Settlement

    1604 – 1713

    France established the first permanent settlements on Saint-Pierre in the early 17th century, integrating the islands into the broader French colonial enterprise in North America. The islands changed hands amid recurring Anglo-French conflicts and served as a base for the cod fishery vital to French commerce. Control remained contested as Britain and France competed for dominance across the northwestern Atlantic.

  3. Treaty of Utrecht Era

    1713 – 1763

    The Treaty of Utrecht forced France to cede the islands to Britain, effectively ending French settlement and leaving the archipelago largely depopulated. The period was marked by diplomatic tension, periodic reoccupation, and the displacement of Acadian populations from Nova Scotia, some of whom sought refuge in the islands. French fishing interests continued to regard Saint-Pierre and Miquelon as vital grounds despite the loss of sovereignty.

  4. Restored French Territory

    1763 – 1816

    The Treaty of Paris of 1763, concluding the Seven Years' War, returned the islands to France as the sole remnant of its once vast North American empire. Acadian deportees repopulated the islands, forging the distinct Franco-Atlantic identity that persists today. The era was turbulent, however, as the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars prompted British forces to depopulate and occupy the islands multiple times before France definitively regained control in 1816.

  5. Prohibition Boom & Fishery

    1816 – 1945

    The islands settled into a stable French colonial identity built around the Grand Banks cod fishery, which sustained the population through the 19th century. During American Prohibition (1920–1933), Saint-Pierre became a major transshipment hub for alcohol destined for the United States, generating extraordinary prosperity. In 1941, Free French forces under Admiral Muselier seized the islands from the Vichy administration, aligning Saint-Pierre and Miquelon with the Allied cause.

  6. Territorial Collectivity

    1945 – present

    Following World War II, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon evolved through several administrative statuses, becoming a French territorial collectivity in 1985, its current designation. The collapse of cod stocks in the late 20th century severely damaged the fishing economy, mirroring the crisis experienced in neighboring Newfoundland. Today the islands balance a developing tourism sector with their enduring identity as the last vestige of French imperial North America and a full participant in the European Union.

Timeline Preview

The first 4 key events. View the full chronology on the timeline page.

  1. 1520

    The islands of Saint-Pierre et Miquelon were baptized the Eleven Thousand Virgins.

    The islands of Saint-Pierre et Miquelon were baptized the Eleven Thousand Virgins by Joao Alvarez Faguendes of Portugal in 1520, the Green Islands by the Corte Real brothers and the Island of Saint-Pierre by Jacques Cartier in 1536.

  2. 1579

    The island of Miquelon was given its name by Basque fishermen.

    The island of Miquelon was given its name by Basque fishermen.

  3. 1604

    French settlements begins.

    French settlements begins.

  4. 1763

    The treaty of 1763 returned the islands of Saint-Pierre & Miquelon back to France.

    The treaty of 1763 returned the islands of Saint-Pierre & Miquelon back to France, and despite the subsequent deportations of 1778 and 1793, the islands were once again returned to France in 1816.

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