Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry
Encyclopedia
Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry (July 20, 1721 – December 11, 1797) was a seigneur
, military engineer and political figure in Lower Canada
. His first name was also sometimes written Joseph-Gaspard.
in 1721, he was the son of Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry (b.1665), the King's Engineer and the architect of Toulon
, Provence, by his wife Claire d'Artigues. His family were long settled in Provence, where they held the seigneury of Mimet, near Aix-en-Provence
.
in New England
, helped maintain French
fortifications in New France
and was in charge of the construction of Fort Saint-Jean
. In 1753, he married Louise, the daughter of François Martel de Brouague, commandant of the Coast of Labrador
. He took part in Louis-Joseph de Montcalm
's capture of Fort Oswego
in 1756 and, in 1757, was promoted to captain for his success at the Battle of Fort Bull
. He was wounded at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham
and sent back to France in 1761. He had become the seigneur of Léry after his father's death.
At some point, Chaussegros de Léry produced a finished copy of a map of the west. The original work had been done by Christopher Dufrost de La Jemeraye
, a nephew of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye.
Chaussegros de Léry was not given any opportunities by the French and returned to Quebec
by way of England
in 1764. He was named chief road commissioner by Governor Guy Carleton
in 1768 and served on the Legislative Council and Executive Council of Quebec. In 1792, he was named to the Legislative Council of Lower Canada
. He sold the seigneury of Léry in 1766 but later acquired the seigneuries of Perthuis, Rigaud-Vaudreuil, Gentilly, Le Gardeur and Sainte-Barbe.
He died at Quebec in 1797.
Rene Legardeur de Beauvais (1660-1742), by his wife Marie-Barbe, daughter of Chevalier Pierre de Saint-Ours (1640-1724). His son Louis-René
also served on the legislative council and his son Charles-Étienne
was a member of the executive council and the special council that administered the province after the Lower Canada Rebellion. His daughter Catherine married seigneur Jacques-Philippe Saveuse de Beaujeu
and was the mother of Georges-René Saveuse de Beaujeu
. Another son, Gaspard-Joseph, married Louise Martel de Brouage in 1753, and they were the first Canadian couple to be presented to the English Court, drawing the compelent from His Majesty that if all Canadian ladies resembled Mme de Lery then he had made 'une belle conquete'.
Seigneurial system of New France
The seigneurial system of New France was the semi-feudal system of land distribution used in the North American colonies of New France.-Introduction to New France:...
, military engineer and political figure in Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
. His first name was also sometimes written Joseph-Gaspard.
Education
Born in the city of QuebecQuebec 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 1721, he was the son of Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry (b.1665), the King's Engineer and the architect of Toulon
Toulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
, Provence, by his wife Claire d'Artigues. His family were long settled in Provence, where they held the seigneury of Mimet, near Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence
Aix , or Aix-en-Provence to distinguish it from other cities built over hot springs, is a city-commune in southern France, some north of Marseille. It is in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the département of Bouches-du-Rhône, of which it is a subprefecture. The population of Aix is...
.
Career
He joined the colonial army in 1733 and became an assistant engineer in 1739. Chaussegros de Léry took part in raids against the BritishKingdom 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...
in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, helped maintain French
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...
fortifications 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...
and was in charge of the construction of Fort Saint-Jean
Fort Saint-Jean (Quebec)
Fort Saint-Jean is a fort in the Canadian La Vallée-du-Richelieu Regional County Municipality, Quebec located on the Richelieu River. The fort was first built in 1666 by soldiers of the Carignan-Salières Regiment and was part of a series of forts built along the Richelieu River...
. In 1753, he married Louise, the daughter of François Martel de Brouague, commandant of the Coast of Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
. He took part in 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...
's capture of Fort Oswego
Fort Oswego
Fort Oswego was an important frontier post for British traders in the 18th century. A trading post was established in 1722 with a log palisade, and New York governor William Burnet ordered a fort built at the site in 1727. The log palisade fort established a British presence on the Great Lakes....
in 1756 and, in 1757, was promoted to captain for his success at the Battle of Fort Bull
Battle of Fort Bull
The Battle of Fort Bull was a French attack on the British-held Fort Bull on 27 March 1756, early in the French and Indian War.Lt. Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry led his command consisting of forces from the Troupes de la Marine, Canadian militia, and Indian allies on an attack against Fort...
. He was wounded at 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...
and sent back to France in 1761. He had become the seigneur of Léry after his father's death.
At some point, Chaussegros de Léry produced a finished copy of a map of the west. The original work had been done by Christopher Dufrost de La Jemeraye
Christopher Dufrost de La Jemeraye
Christopher Dufrost de La Jemeraye ,, was the lieutenant and nephew of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye in the exploratory party which headed west from Fort Kaministiquia in 1731. He and Jean Baptiste de La Vérendrye established Fort St...
, a nephew of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye.
Chaussegros de Léry was not given any opportunities by the French and returned to Quebec
Province of Quebec (1763-1791)
The Province of Quebec was a colony in North America created by Great Britain after the Seven Years' War. Great Britain acquired Canada by the Treaty of Paris when King Louis XV of France and his advisors chose to keep the territory of Guadeloupe for its valuable sugar crops instead of New France...
by way of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1764. He was named chief road commissioner by Governor Guy Carleton
Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, KB , known between 1776 and 1786 as Sir Guy Carleton, was an Irish-British soldier and administrator...
in 1768 and served on the Legislative Council and Executive Council of Quebec. In 1792, he was named to the Legislative Council of Lower Canada
Legislative Council of Lower Canada
The Legislative Council of Lower Canada was the upper house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The upper house consisted of appointed councillors who voted on bills passed up by the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada. The legislative council was...
. He sold the seigneury of Léry in 1766 but later acquired the seigneuries of Perthuis, Rigaud-Vaudreuil, Gentilly, Le Gardeur and Sainte-Barbe.
He died at Quebec in 1797.
Family
His wife was Marie-Renee (1697-1743), daughter of ChevalierChevalier
Chevalier is a class of membership in a French Order of Chivalry or order of merit.* a member of the Ordre National du Mérite* a rank in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres* a rank in the Legion d'honneur* a member of the Order of Palmes académiques...
Rene Legardeur de Beauvais (1660-1742), by his wife Marie-Barbe, daughter of Chevalier Pierre de Saint-Ours (1640-1724). His son Louis-René
Louis-René Chaussegros de Léry
Louis-René Chaussegros de Léry was a seigneur, soldier and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in Paris in 1762, the son of seigneur Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry and Louise Martel de Brouague, the daughter of François Martel de Brouague. He stayed in France until 1770, when he...
also served on the legislative council and his son Charles-Étienne
Charles-Étienne Chaussegros de Léry
Charles-Étienne Chaussegros de Léry was a seigneur and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in the town of Quebec in 1774, the son of seigneur Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry and Louise Martel de Brouague, the daughter of François Martel de Brouague...
was a member of the executive council and the special council that administered the province after the Lower Canada Rebellion. His daughter Catherine married seigneur Jacques-Philippe Saveuse de Beaujeu
Jacques-Philippe Saveuse de Beaujeu
Jacques-Philippe Saveuse de Beaujeu was a seigneur and political figure in Lower Canada.He was baptized on May 5, 1772, the son of seigneur Louis Liénard de Beaujeu de Villemonde. In 1794, he was named Protonotary of the Court of King's Bench for Montreal district. In 1802, he married Catherine,...
and was the mother of Georges-René Saveuse de Beaujeu
Georges-René Saveuse de Beaujeu
Georges-René Saveuse de Beaujeu, Comte de Beaujeu was a seigneur and political figure in Canada East.He was born in Montreal in 1810, the son of seigneur Jacques-Philippe Saveuse de Beaujeu and Catherine Chaussegros de Léry, daughter of Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry. He studied at the Collège...
. Another son, Gaspard-Joseph, married Louise Martel de Brouage in 1753, and they were the first Canadian couple to be presented to the English Court, drawing the compelent from His Majesty that if all Canadian ladies resembled Mme de Lery then he had made 'une belle conquete'.