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Fortified post of Mingan Seigniory, on lower St. Lawrence. One of the oldest trading posts in Canada being in continuous operation for more than 260 years. The Seigniory extended from the Cormorants 90 leagues to the Vermilion river opposite the lower end of Anticosti. The seignueurs of Mingan claimed about 3000 square miles of the coast from the Cormorants to Blanc Sablon and to a depth of 10 miles. The Privy Council of England in 1892 defined the limits of the seigneury at 150 miles frontage and 6 miles depth from Cape Cormorants to the river Aquanish, a surface of 800,000 arpents, or about 1056 square miles.

The territory was closed to traders under the seigniory. In 1735 François Bissot asserted that Mingan seigniory had been established in 1661 and that it had been continuously operated either by his father François Bissot de la Rivière (the first seigneur) or by himself and his brother-in-law Jolliet from 1661 to 1733 when it was leased to Lafontaine and was called Terre Ferme de Mingan and Isles de Mingan. In 1736 the seigniory was leased to Sieur Volant for 21 years. In 1761 Lafontaine and Taché leased Mingan and its subsidiary posts to Isbester. In 1764 Cugnet and Taché leased Mingan, Anticosti, and Isles de Mingan to John Lymburner. In 1803 the seigniory and post were leased to McTavish, Frobisher & Co. (the North West Co.) who operated the post until in 1825, on expiration of the 1803 lease, the seigniory was leased to the Hudson's Bay Co. In 1866 on termination of the lease. Mingan post and a small area were again leased to the Hudson's Bay Co. who have operated the post to present date. It appears on the Company lists of 1856 and on other lists to date.

Mingan was the headquarters of the first seigneur. Anticosti and Mingan islands were granted in 1680 and 1697 to Sieur de Joliette. The post at Mingan is included in Bougainville's list 1757 and is described by Jas. McKenzie in 1808 as follows:

Mingan was the head post of the Seigniory. It was beautifully situated at mouth of Mingan river, with a good harbour. The buildings and chapel were as good as any on the coast. Salmon and trout are plentiful and seals are shot before the house. Mingan island is one mile in circumference, 3 leagues above the post. The old French post was located on Mingan island and was fortified. Remains of the stone work are still visible.

The North West Co's. post was located on the mainland at the mouth of Mingan river. In 1690 the post was destroyed by the English fleet. It was rebuilt and again destroyed by the English in 1711. Rebuilt by Bissot, it was again destroyed in 1759 by the English fleet.