Philippe de Rigaud Vaudreuil
Encyclopedia
Philippe de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil (c. 1643 – October 10, 1725) was a French politician, who was Governor-general of New France (now Canada
and US states of the Mississippi Valley) from 1703 to 1725.
He was born in the castle of Vaudreuil, near Castelnaudary
, France
, the son of Jean-Louis de Rigaud de Vaudreuil, seigneur
, baron of Auriac, Cabaniol, Vaudreuil etc., by his wife Marie de Château-Verdun. As Chevalier de Vaudreuil, he was sent to command French forces in New France
before being appointed governor of Montreal
in 1702, and then governor-general of New France in 1703. Vaudreuil was a successful administrator and reformer, pursued an enlightened policy towards the Native Americans
in the region, and remained overwhelmingly pro-French. He died in Quebec City
.
He married a daughter of Pierre de Joybert de Soulanges et de Marson
, by his wife Marie-Françoise, daughter of Louis-Théandre Chartier de Lotbinière
. They lived at Château Vaudreuil, Montreal, which was built by Chaussegros de Léry. The Château was eventually destroyed by a fire in 1803. Their son, Pierre François de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnal
, served as the last French Governor-General of Canada before the British Conquest of New France from 1755 to 1760 during the French and Indian War
. Several of his other sons went on to distinguished careers in the French army and navy. His grandson Louis-Philippe de Vaudreuil defeated the English Navy at the Battle of Yorktown (1781) on the Septre, and was protecting George Washington
's army in 1782 in Boston
aboard the Triomphant. His grandson also brought back the victorious French army of Rochambeau
, back to France after the Siege of Yorktown
.
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...
and US states of the Mississippi Valley) from 1703 to 1725.
He was born in the castle of Vaudreuil, near Castelnaudary
Castelnaudary
Castelnaudary is a commune in the Aude department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in south France. It is in the former province of the Lauragais and famous for cassoulet of which it claims to be the world capital, and of which it is a major producer....
, France
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...
, the son of Jean-Louis de Rigaud de Vaudreuil, seigneur
Lord
Lord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'...
, baron of Auriac, Cabaniol, Vaudreuil etc., by his wife Marie de Château-Verdun. As Chevalier de Vaudreuil, he was sent to command French forces in New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
before being appointed governor of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in 1702, and then governor-general of New France in 1703. Vaudreuil was a successful administrator and reformer, pursued an enlightened policy towards the Native Americans
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
in the region, and remained overwhelmingly pro-French. He died in 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...
.
He married a daughter of Pierre de Joybert de Soulanges et de Marson
Pierre de Joybert de Soulanges et de Marson
Pierre de Joybert de Soulanges et de Marson was the administrator of Acadia in 1677-1678.Born at Saint-Hilaire de Soulanges, Marne in Champagne, France, son of Claude de Joybert, Seigneur de Soulanges. As a young man he served in Portugal before coming to Quebec in 1665 as a Lieutenant in the...
, by his wife Marie-Françoise, daughter of Louis-Théandre Chartier de Lotbinière
Louis-Théandre Chartier de Lotbinière
Louis-Théandre Chartier de Lotbinière , considered by some sources to have been the 'Father of the Canadian Magistrature', he was the disreputable Lieutenant-General of the Provost's Court of New France...
. They lived at Château Vaudreuil, Montreal, which was built by Chaussegros de Léry. The Château was eventually destroyed by a fire in 1803. Their son, Pierre François de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnal
Pierre François de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnal
Pierre François de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnal was a Canadian-born French colonial governor in North America...
, served as the last French Governor-General of Canada before the British Conquest of New France from 1755 to 1760 during the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
. Several of his other sons went on to distinguished careers in the French army and navy. His grandson Louis-Philippe de Vaudreuil defeated the English Navy at the Battle of Yorktown (1781) on the Septre, and was protecting George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's army in 1782 in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
aboard the Triomphant. His grandson also brought back the victorious French army of Rochambeau
Rochambeau
Rochambeau may refer to:* French soldiers:** Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau , French nobleman and soldier who participated in the American Revolutionary War...
, back to France after the Siege of Yorktown
Siege of Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Yorktown, or Surrender of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis...
.