 Led by the Sulpician priest, Abbé Picquet, the mission was a source of some controversy as Picquet actively encouraged Iroquois war party raids on English settlements.Construction began in 1748, with the initial fort composed of a small house and a barn and a garrison of three soldiers.On 1 June 1749, the fort was officially established by Picquet, who was its commander, with 25 Frenchmen and 4 Indians.