Laurent Quetton St. George (1771 - 1821)Inducted 1988

Laurent de Quetton was born in France in 1771. A Royalist, he had a distinguished military career in Europe until the French revolution hastened his departure from France, along with many other Royalist refugees. There is a possibility he added St. George to his name in gratitude for finding refuge on British soil on St. George's Day.

In the summer of 1798, forty-one people, including Laurent Quetton St. George, led by the Comte de Puisaye, arrived at Oak Ridges, a place where the four townships of King, Whitchurch, Vaughan and Markham meet. The settlement was a failure and de Puisaye returned to England in 1802.

St. George was ambitious and resourceful. He determined to succeed and to adjust to the pioneer conditions in Canada. Some time between 1800 and 1802 he opened a fur trading post at The Narrows, Orillia. Later, he established stores at York, Queenston, Fort Erie, Dundas and other areas. Records show his landholdings in this part of the country consisted of 2,300 acres in North Orillia, 2,500 acres in Medonte and 800 in South Orillia.

In 1815, St. George returned to France, married Adele de Barbeyrae, by whom he had a son, Henri. In 1847, Henri came to Canada to claim his inheritance. He built a sawmill at the outlet of Lake Couchiching to the Severn River. The names of Quetton Street in Washago and Lake St. George remind us of the activities of Henri rather than of Laurent.

Although Laurent Quetton St. George never actually lived in Orillia, he did amass extensive land holdings nearby, and it could be said he was Orillia's pioneer entrepreneur and deserving to be included in our Hall of Fame.