Before European settlement of Prince Edward Island began in the early 18th century, the area around what is now Charlottetown was populated by the Mi'kmaq nation of indigenous peoples. The first European settlers were French explorers who founded the settlement of Port la Joie across the harbor to the south of modern Charlottetown in 1720. After the British took control of Prince Edward Island in 1763, Port la Joie became the site of Fort Amherst, built to protect the harbor on which Charlottetown is situated. The British surveyor-general, Captain Samuel Holland, located the new settlement across the harbor from Port la Joie and suggested the name Charlotte Town, after Charlotte, wife of King George III. In 1768 it was named the capital of the colony.
A detailed plan of city blocks was laid out in 1768 by Charles Morris, the chief surveyor for the colony of Nova Scotia. Changes and refinements were made in 1771 by surveyor Thomas Wright, acting on the instructions of the first colonial governor, Walter Patterson. The plan devoted 110 hectares (270 acres) to building lots and 230 hectares (565 acres) to a common area, reserved for later expansion. Beyond the common were over 2420 hectares (6000 acres) of pastureland, known as the Royalty.
Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Charlottetown Information info
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