French colonization of the Americas French colonization of the Americas The French colonization of the Americas began in the 16th century, and continued on into the following centuries as France established a colonial empire in the Western Hemisphere. France founded colonies in much of eastern North America, on a number of Caribbean islands, and in South America. Most colonies were developed to export products such as fish, rice sugar, and furs. As they colonized the New World, the French established forts and settlements that would become such cities as Quebec and Montreal in Canada; Detroit, Green Bay, St. Louis, Cape Girardeau, Mobile, Biloxi, Baton Rouge
Douglas (given name) Douglas (given name) Douglas is a Scottish masculine given name which originated from the surname "Douglas". Although today the name is almost exclusively given to boys, it was used as girls name in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, in the north of England. The Scottish surname "Douglas" was borne by one of the most powerful families of the Kingdom of Scotland (the Earls of Douglas, Angus, Morton, Dukes of Hamilton and others). It has sometimes been stated that the given name is connected with the given name "Dougal", although it is more likely derived from the surname already mentioned. Linguistically,