NOURRISSON, Guy Leon, French colonist, born in Saint Malo about 1575: died near Newfoundland in 1629. He commanded for years a small brig that plied between Saint Malo and North America. He had occasion to land in southern Newfoundland, and, being convinced of the commercial advantages of the place, determined to establish a French station there. He disclosed his project to merchants in Dieppe and Saint Malo, received a hearty support, and formed a company, which obtained in 1621 from Louis XIII. a charter on condition that it should build two fortresses and maintain the garrisons for ten years. Preparations for an expedition were soon completed, and in the spring of 1622 Nourrisson landed in the peninsula with 125 men, and found to his surprise that other Frenchmen had arrived there a month before. He finally forced them to acknowledge his authority, and prepared to establish a colony, when the settlers of Lord Baltimore opposed his progress, claiming the possession of the whole country. Arbitration was first resorted to, but failed, and hostilities began. The French were soon overpowered, and, being driven from the peninsula, they retired to Placentia and founded a station there, but difficulties arose also with the French followers of Lord Falkland, and most of the French returned to their native country. Nourrisson, nevertheless, maintained the station at Placentia during the following years, and brought over settlers several times. He was finally shipwrecked off the Newfoundland coast.