Gaspé is a city near the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula that is known as the “Cradle of French America.” On June 24, 1534, explorer Jacques Cartier halted at Gaspé after losing an anchor during a storm and claimed possession of the area by planting a wooden cross with the king’s coat of arms and saying “Vive le Roi de France” (“Long live the King of France”).

Gaspé is situated on Gaspé Basin which is a branch of Gaspé Bay. In 1871, a red catoptric light, consisting of a mammoth flat-wick burner with reflector in a lantern that was hoisted to the top of a thirty-foot-tall flagstaff, was established on the end of the wharf at O’Hara Point at Gaspé. The light was known as Gaspé Basin Light and was under the charge of Joseph Eden the harbour master. Joseph Eden kept the light until 1875, when Benjamin Eden was placed in charge of the light. Benjamin Eden left the locality in 1888, and Francois Eden became keeper of the light at that time. Francois Eden served until 1900 and was followed by William Lindsay.

By 1897, a square lighthouse with a height of thirty-seven feet had replaced the light exhibited from a flagstaff on O’Hara Point Wharf. This lighthouse was discontinued in 1911, when two offshore lights were established in Gaspé Basin: Janvrin Shoal Light and Paddy Shoal Light.

Keepers: Joseph Eden (1871 – 1875), Benjamin Eden (1875 – 1888), Francois Eden (1888 – 1900), William Lindsay (1900 – 1911).

References

1. Annual Report of the Department of Marine, various years.

No light exists at this location today.

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