Marie Morin

Marie Morin 1649-1730

Marie Morin (March 19, 1649 – April 8, 1730) was a nun and historian in New France. She was the first Canadian-born woman to become a nun.[1]

The daughter of Noël Morin, seigneur of Saint-Luc, and Hélène Desportes, she was born in Quebec City and was educated at the Ursuline convent there. Her brother Germain was the first Canadian-born priest. At the age of 11, she decided that she wished to join the Religious Hospitallers of Ville-Marie in Montreal. Her parents disagreed, preferring a community closer to their home but, two years later, she became a novice of the Hospitallers. She took her vows in 1671. Because of her business sense, she was named depositary (financial director) several times. In 1693, she became the first Canadian-born superior of the Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal, serving until 1698; she served again as superior from 1708 to 1711. She also directed renovation work for an expansion of the Hôtel-Dieu in 1689 and directed its reconstruction after a fire in 1695.[1]

From 1697 to 1725, she wrote the annals chronicling the history of the Hôtel-Dieu. She died in Montreal after suffering a long illness.[2]

  1. ^ a b Bernier, Hélène (1979) [1969]. "Morin, Marie". In Hayne, David (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. II (1701–1740) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
  2. ^ "Marie Morin en 1725". Vieux-Montréal (in French). Ville de Montréal.