Why was port royal important to Canada?

Answer 1

Port Royal was the scene of major fighting during King William's War. Port Royal served as a safe harbor for French cruisers and supply point for Indians hostile to the New England colonies. In 1690 Port Royal was attacked and destroyed by an overwhelming force sent from New England. The force was commanded by William Phips and consisted of "7 ships, armed with 78 cannon and carrying 736 men, 446 of them being militiamen." The French garrison consisted of only 80 soldiers and the fortifications were in a state of disrepair with the cannon that were available not even being mounted. Realizing the hopelessness of the situation the local French commander negotiated an honorable surrender. Though in spite of the terms under the surrender, the New Englanders soon broke into 12 days of looting and pillaging. The cannon were removed and anything that could be deemed a fortification was levelled. William Phips also ordered the Acadian peasantry to swear an oath of allegiance to William and Mary of England. Phips then determined to install a new government, he organized a provisional government by personally selecting French Acadian leaders to form a council. In addition to his assault on Port Royal, Phips dispatched additional forces to destroy other French posts at the head of the Bay of Fundy at Castine, La Havre, Chedabucto. Port Royal was attacked three times by the British and their colonists during Queen Anne's War. On September 24, 1710, 36 ships and 3,600 men laid siege. The French held out until October 13 when the 150 defenders of the fort surrendered. This ended the French rule of Acadia.