(Originally published in 1763)
Originally published in 1763
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Pierre de Rigaud de Vaudreuil de Cavagnial, Marquis de Vaudreuil was born on 22 November 1698 and was a native of that colony.
He was the third son of Philippe Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil, likewise governor (1703 - 25), and of Louise Elisabeth de Joybert.
As governor's son Pierre was brought up in mild luxury and early entered the army, rising in 1726 to the rank of major. Two years later, he accompanied the expedition of the Sieur de Lignery against the Fox Indians in what is now Wisconsin. Then known as the Sieur de Cavagnal, he appears to have acted as commissary and was sent to announce the news of the failure of the expedition to the governor. Ten years later, he was chosen for the governorship of the colony of Louisiana, succeeding Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville, and arriving at New Orleans early in 1743.
His appointment pleased the colonists, for he had a hereditary reputation for liberality and kindness. He carried through one Indian expedition against the Chickasaw, but he had no large problems to meet and left New Orleans in May 1753 on receipt of the news of his promotion to the governorship of Canada. The annals and official papers of Vaudreuil's administration of Louisiana were captured by the British somewhere on the high seas during the transport between Louisiana and France. After a sojourn at Paris and the court of Versailles, Vaudreuil was commissioned governor of New France, where he arrived on June 23, 1755, to take up the duties of his office.
He found the colony on the brink of war with England. On his arrival he was received with pleasure by the colonists, the tribesmen, and the French officers. He refused to support the plans of Montcalm, who was sent to conduct the war for France; he is even held responsible for the defeat on the Plains of Abraham, September 13, 1759, since he countermanded Montcalm's order for a guard to prevent the English approach.
After the death of Montcalm, Vaudreuil retreated to Montreal, where the following summer he was besieged and on September 8, 1760, capitulated. By this last act as governor Vaudreuil ruined the French cause in Canada. He withdrew to France, arriving in December 1760, and soon after was arrested and thrown into the Bastille. At his trial the next year, he was acquitted of dishonesty, although his reputation for intelligence suffered.
(Originally published in 1763)
Pierre de Rigaud's administration did not belie his name; he held a small court, noted for its brilliancy; his good breeding and geniality pleased the populace, and his administration of ten years was so successful that it was long remembered.
He was a native Canadian, had had a successful experience as governor of Louisiana, and it was anticipated that his defense of Canada would prove notable. Notable it was, but not in the expected ways. Vaudreuil had an exaggerated opinion of his military prowess; he was weak and vacillating and allowed himself to be drawn into the corrupt ring that surrounded the Intendant Bigot.
He was granted a pension and continued to live in Paris, a lonely, discredited figure, until his death. The marquise, older than he, died in 1764; they had no children, but collateral descendants preserved his memory and his portraits. His papers were burned in 1870 to keep them from falling into the hands of the invading Germans.
The almost unanimous testimony of historians of the time is that Vaudreuil was contributory to the fall of New France; that he was jealous of better soldiers than himself; that he talked more than was prudent; and that, while not actually dishonest, he granted monopolies to his relatives and failed to check the corruption that went on around him.
His officers said, "The Marquis de Vaudreuil has sold the country". His chief virtue was his patriotic devotion to his native land, and his championship of Canadians and Indian allies in the last days of the rule of France in America.
Pierre de Rigaud was married, but the couple had no children.
