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Louis-Hector de Callière | |
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| Governor of Montreal | |
| In office 1684–1699 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Tarieu de LaNouguère |
| Succeeded by | François Provost |
| Governor of New France | |
| In office 1698–1703 | |
| Monarch | Louis XIV |
| Preceded by | Louis de Buade de Frontenac |
| Succeeded by | Philippe de Rigaud Vaudreuil |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1648-11-12)12 November 1648 |
| Died | 26 May 1703(1703-05-26) (aged 54) |
| Relations | François de Callières |
| Parent(s) | Madeleine Potier de Courcy Jacques de Callières |
| Signature |  |
Louis-Hector de Callière orCallières (French pronunciation:[lwiɛktɔʁdəkaljɛʁ]; 12 November 1648 – 26 May 1703) was a French military officer, who was thegovernor of Montreal (1684–1699), and the 13thgovernor of New France from 1698 to 1703.[1] During his tenure as governor of Montreal, theIroquois war had enhanced the importance of that position. He conducted himself so well during this period that he was awarded the prestigiouscross of Saint-Louis in 1694 partly on the recommendation ofBuade de Frontenac. He, additionally, played an important role in defining the strategy thatNew France followed duringQueen Anne's War. He ranked as captain in the regiment ofNavarre. He came toCanada in 1684, and was appointed Governor ofMontreal at the request of theSulpicians who wereSeigneurs of the island. The situation of the colony at that time was most critical, owing toFrontenac's departure, the weakness of Governor de la Barre, and the woeful error of the French government in sending someIroquois chiefs captured atCataracoui (Kingston) to be galley slaves in France.
In 1689 Callières proposed toLouis XIV to invadeNew England by land and sea, and obtained the reappointment of Frontenac as governor. In 1690 he marched to the defense ofQuebec, when it was besieged byWilliam Phips. A valiant and experienced soldier, he aided Frontenac in saving New France from the Iroquois and in raising the prestige of the French flag. He was one of the first to receive theCross of St. Louis (1694). Having succeeded Frontenac in 1698, he devoted all his skill and energy to the pacification of the indigenous nations. Thetreaty of Montreal (1701), agreed to by representatives of 39 nations, was the crowning result of all his efforts. This treaty is considered as Callières' chief claim to fame. That same year he sentAntoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac to foundDetroit. One of the most conspicuous figures in Canadian history, he left a reputation of disinterestedness, honour, and probity.
De Callière was born in Thorigny-sur-Vire,Lower Normandy.
He was the son of Jacques de Callières, governor ofCherbourg and the author ofLa Fortune des gens de qualité et des gentilshommes particuliers, enseignant l'art de vivre à la cour suivant les maximes de la politique et de la morale ("The Fortune of people of quality and private gentlemen, teaching the art of living at court according to the maxims of politics and morality"), and Madeleine Potier de Courey.
François de Callières, the eldest son, was elected to theFrench Academy in 1689 and also served with distinction in Louis XIV's diplomatic corps. In 1701, thanks to his ability to imitate the royal handwriting and to his mastery of the French language, succeededToussaint Rose as the secretary "who held the pen." His duties, designed to save the monarch time and fatigue, consisted of writing in a hand and style similar to those of the king letters and memoirs to dignitaries and foreign heads of state and of signing them with the royal name. Such a position of trust gave Callières great power which he frequently used to further the career of Louis-Hector in Canada.
The Governor's residence in Montreal was located in Place d'Youville was built in 1688 and disappeared sometime around 1760s. A plaque commemorating the location is at 224 Place d'Youville,[2] an office building built in 1891 and gutted by a fire in 2023.[3]
| Government offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Governor General of New France 1698 – 1703 | Succeeded by |
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| Other | |
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