Louis Du Pont Duchambon de Vergor
Encyclopedia
Louis Du Pont Duchambon de Vergor (September 20, 1713 – 1775?) was a French
military officer who served as a member of the French Army
during the Seven Years' War
.
Born in the Charente
department of France, Vergor began his military career as a cadet
and served in various North American locations, mostly in what would later be the maritime provinces of Canada
. An injury suffered in 1745 during the siege of Louisbourg resulted in his being returned to France for several years. He returned to Canada in 1747, and reached the rank of Captain in 1750.
In 1754, Vergor was named as commander of Fort Beauséjour
in what would become New Brunswick
. With the Seven Years' War underway, French forts in the maritime regions were targeted by British
troops, and on June 4, 1755, Fort Beauséjour was attacked
by a force led by Robert Monckton
. The siege lasted two weeks, with Vergor holding out against the greater British force. However, not having taken the necessary precautions to organise a good defense, Vergor was not capable of meeting the British head on. He had under his orders 160 soldiers, 300 Acadian refugies, and a group of Micmacs. After a few days of siege, a cannon ball exploded inside the fort, killing six officers and several soldiers. Vigor panicked, and raised the white flag. The British gave him favorable conditions, and gave permission to him and his men to go to Louisbourg. The Acadians joined their relatives in northeastern Acadia, now (New Brunswick)[1]. Vergor was tried by court-martial
at Quebec City
in September of 1757 and acquitted of charges that the forts were not adequately defended.
Two years later, Vergor was a part of the defense of Quebec under Louis-Joseph de Montcalm
during the siege prior to the Battle of the Plains of Abraham
. On the night of September 12, 1759, Vergor was in command of a small encampment tasked to guard the upper portion of a road leading from the St. Lawrence River to the plains; his command was the first to contact the British under General James Wolfe
. Ironically, the British officer in charge of the initial assault force was again Robert Monckton. The French encampment was caught by surprise, and Vergor was shot and captured.
After repatriation to France, Vergor was apparently unable to continue in the military, and apparently died in poverty some time after 1775.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
military officer who served as a member of the French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
during the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
.
Born in the Charente
Charente
Charente is a department in southwestern France, in the Poitou-Charentes region, named after the Charente River, the most important river in the department, and also the river beside which the department's two largest towns, Angoulême and Cognac, are sited.-History:Charente is one of the original...
department of France, Vergor began his military career as a cadet
Cadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
and served in various North American locations, mostly in what would later be the maritime provinces of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. An injury suffered in 1745 during the siege of Louisbourg resulted in his being returned to France for several years. He returned to Canada in 1747, and reached the rank of Captain in 1750.
In 1754, Vergor was named as commander of Fort Beauséjour
Fort Beauséjour
Fort Beauséjour, was built during Father Le Loutre's War from 1751-1755; it is located at the Isthmus of Chignecto in present-day Aulac, New Brunswick, Canada...
in what would become New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. With the Seven Years' War underway, French forts in the maritime regions were targeted by British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
troops, and on June 4, 1755, Fort Beauséjour was attacked
Battle of Fort Beauséjour
The Battle of Fort Beauséjour was fought on the Isthmus of Chignecto and marked the end of Father Le Loutre’s War andthe opening of a British offensive in the French and Indian War, which would eventually lead to the end the French Empire in North America...
by a force led by Robert Monckton
Robert Monckton
Robert Monckton was an officer of the British army and a colonial administrator in British North America. He had a distinguished military and political career, being second in command to General Wolfe at the battle of Quebec and subsequently being the Governor of New York State...
. The siege lasted two weeks, with Vergor holding out against the greater British force. However, not having taken the necessary precautions to organise a good defense, Vergor was not capable of meeting the British head on. He had under his orders 160 soldiers, 300 Acadian refugies, and a group of Micmacs. After a few days of siege, a cannon ball exploded inside the fort, killing six officers and several soldiers. Vigor panicked, and raised the white flag. The British gave him favorable conditions, and gave permission to him and his men to go to Louisbourg. The Acadians joined their relatives in northeastern Acadia, now (New Brunswick)[1]. Vergor was tried by court-martial
Court-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
at Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
in September of 1757 and acquitted of charges that the forts were not adequately defended.
Two years later, Vergor was a part of the defense of Quebec under Louis-Joseph de Montcalm
Louis-Joseph de Montcalm
Louis-Joseph de Montcalm-Gozon, Marquis de Saint-Veran was a French soldier best known as the commander of the forces in North America during the Seven Years' War .Montcalm was born near Nîmes in France to a noble family, and entered military service...
during the siege prior to the Battle of the Plains of Abraham
Battle of the Plains of Abraham
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, also known as the Battle of Quebec, was a pivotal battle in the Seven Years' War...
. On the night of September 12, 1759, Vergor was in command of a small encampment tasked to guard the upper portion of a road leading from the St. Lawrence River to the plains; his command was the first to contact the British under General James Wolfe
James Wolfe
Major General James P. Wolfe was a British Army officer, known for his training reforms but remembered chiefly for his victory over the French in Canada...
. Ironically, the British officer in charge of the initial assault force was again Robert Monckton. The French encampment was caught by surprise, and Vergor was shot and captured.
After repatriation to France, Vergor was apparently unable to continue in the military, and apparently died in poverty some time after 1775.