Background
He was born in Montreal in 1743, the only son of Pierre-Paul Margane de Lavaltrie, a seigneur and captain in the French army based in New France.
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Pierre Lavaltrie
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He joined the colonial army at the age of 13, becoming lieutenant and fought at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759. The following year, he returned with his regiment to France. In 1765, he returned to Quebec at his father"s request and inherited the seigneury of Lavaltrie the following year after his father died.
In 1775, he took part in the defense of Fort Saint Johns (later Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu) against the invading Americans and continued to aid in the defense of the colony until the Americans withdrew in 1776.
Lavaltrie inherited the seigneuries of Terrebonne, Argenteuil and Monnoir but chose to relinquish them to focus on the upkeep of Lavaltrie. In 1788, he was named a justice of the peace.
Although he had opposed constitutional change, Lavaltrie was elected to the 1st Parliament of Lower Canada for Warwick in 1792. Lavaltrie also served in the local militia, reaching the rank of colonel.
He died at his manor in Lavaltrie in 1810.
