LA PLACE, LOUIS-HYACINTHE DE, baptized Jean-Claude, priest, Recollet, missionary, lecturer in theology, provincial commissioner for Canada; b. 1 Feb. 1673 at Rouen, 14th child of Pierre de La Place and Marie Le Couteux; d. 1737 at Versailles.

In 1691 Louis-Hyacinthe de La Place joined the Recollet order, in which he had been preceded by two of his brothers, Simon* and Eustache. He was ordained a priest in 1696, and in 1704 he was appointed lecturer in theology in the convent of Saint-Denis in Paris. From 1706 to 1709 he was guardian of the convent at Vitry-le-François. Appointed provincial commissioner for Canada in 1709, he sailed 5 May 1710 from Rochefort on the Africain, reaching Quebec on 8 September. Thanks to his good qualities and his capable administration he held the office of provincial commissioner for 10 years, although the prescribed period was 3 years. During his visits to the convents in Montreal and Trois-Rivières he exercised his clerical functions, for his name is found in the records of baptisms, marriages, and burials in these localities.

On 28 Oct. 1720 he sailed from Quebec on the Chameau and arrived at Rochefort on 8 December. From 1722 to 1725 he was guardian of the convent in Paris. He was elected provincial of the Recollets of the province of Saint-Denis in Paris on 15 July 1725, and was re-elected in 1734. He died at Versailles on 30 Jan. 1737, at 64 years of age and after 45 years in holy orders.

Gabriel-M.-Réal Dumas