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History

Nova Scotia (New Scotland)

Sir William Alexander

In 1621, King James VI of Scotland (James I of England) gave Sir William Alexander the charter for land between what is now called the St. Croix River and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. This land was given the name Nova Scotia, which is Latin for New Scotland.

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	Sir William Alexander

Sir William Alexander's first attempt at bringing Scottish settlers to Nova Scotia failed. In 1622, he managed to interest only a blacksmith, a Presbyterian minister and some farm labourers. The ship set sail from Scotland in June, was delayed at the Isle of Man, then further delayed by a storm. The ship never made it to the shores of Nova Scotia. In 1623, he tried yet again but met bad weather and the expedition failed.

In May 1628, Sir William Alexander set sail again with four ships, carrying around 70 colonists. The ship and the colonists arrived safely at Port-Royal in Nova Scotia.

Sir William Alexander began some small settlements on Île Royale (now Cape Breton) and the Baie Française (now called the Bay of Fundy). However, British claims for Nova Scotia were given back to the French in the Treaty of Sait-Germain-en-Laye in 1632. Nova Scotia's name was changed back to its original name, Acadia.