Francois-Gabriel D'Angeac
Encyclopedia
François-Gabriel D'Angeac (variants: Dangeac, Danjaique, Don Jacque) (1708 – 9 March 1782), Knight of Saint-Louis, was an officer in the French colonial regular troops and the first French governor
of Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
). He was the son of Gabriel d’Angeac (born Saintonge
; died 1737, Île Royale, now Cape Breton Island
), a military man stationed at the time with Joseph de St. Ovide, Monbeton de Brouillan's company in Plaisance. His mother was Marguerite Bertrand. In 1714, his father and the garrison were re-assigned to Louisbourg
where, five years later, France began construction of a fortified town.
At the age of eight, D'Angeac began his military career as a guard at Port-Dauphin, Nova Scotia (now Englishtown
) on Île Royale. Then, in 1723, D'Angeac was given the rank of second ensign and assigned to his father’s company at Louisbourg.
by New England
forces, but after the defeat, he left for France where he recruited troops for colonial companies. He was promoted to captain in 1747, and accompanied Île Royale’s garrison
to Quebec
before returning to Louisbourg in 1749 upon its reeoccupation by France. From 1751 to 1758, he served as commandant of Port-Dauphin supervising outpost reconstruction. He was awarded the Cross of the Order of Saint-Louis in 1754 (his father had received it in 1724). D'Angeac sustained a chest wound during the 1758 siege of Louisbourg
.
In 1760, Captain D’Angeac was placed in command of French reinforcement troops sent to Canada to aid the commander of the French fleet, François Chenard de La Giraudais, prior to the Battle of Restigouche
. His squadron was defeated on 8 July 1760 by Captain John Byron
's British naval squadron, the last naval engagement of New France
. However, D'Angeac organized thousands of Acadian
s and Indians and bolstered French defenses. Though there was ultimately an order to surrender, D’Angeac was defiant, until finally agreeing to terms.
, the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon became a new French colony, replacing Louisbourg as France's sedentary fishery base and deep-sea fishing fleet refuge. When D’Angeac was appointed governor, Sir Charles Douglas
delayed D'Angeac while Captain James Cook
worked quickly to complete his survey of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. D'Angeac served as governor from 15 June 1763 to 31 July 1773. His relations with Newfoundland's governor, Hugh Palliser
, were strained; Palliser's letters were considered rude.
D'Angeac requested permission to retire in 1765; it was denied. He was promoted to Brigadier des armées of the line infantry
in 1770. Two years later, he left the island of Saint-Pierre for France. With his recommendation, he was succeeded by his nephew, Charles Gabriel Sébastien, Baron de l'Espérance (1725, Louisbourg; died 1791).
D'Angeac retired to Soubise, Charente-Maritime
, France where he died in 1782.
Prefect of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
The prefect of Saint Pierre and Miquelon is the local representative of the President of France and in effect the Governor or Executive officer of the territory.- Overview :...
of Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
Early years
D'Angeac was born in Plaisance, Newfoundland (now Placentia, Newfoundland and LabradorPlacentia, Newfoundland and Labrador
Placentia is a town on the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland and Labrador, consisting of the amalgamated communities of Jerseyside, Townside, Freshwater, Dunville and Argentia...
). He was the son of Gabriel d’Angeac (born Saintonge
Saintonge
Saintonge is a small region on the Atlantic coast of France within the département Charente-Maritime, west and south of Charente in the administrative region of Poitou-Charentes....
; died 1737, Île Royale, now Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
), a military man stationed at the time with Joseph de St. Ovide, Monbeton de Brouillan's company in Plaisance. His mother was Marguerite Bertrand. In 1714, his father and the garrison were re-assigned to Louisbourg
Louisbourg, Nova Scotia
Louisbourg is a community in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Regional Municipality.-History:The town's name was given by French military forces who founded the Fortress of Louisbourg and its fortified seaport on the southwest part of the harbour, in honour of Louis XV...
where, five years later, France began construction of a fortified town.
At the age of eight, D'Angeac began his military career as a guard at Port-Dauphin, Nova Scotia (now Englishtown
Englishtown, Nova Scotia
Not to be confused with present-day St. Anns, Nova Scotia, which was also the former name of Englishtown.Englishtown is a small coastal community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located on St. Anne's Bay in Victoria County on Cape Breton Island...
) on Île Royale. Then, in 1723, D'Angeac was given the rank of second ensign and assigned to his father’s company at Louisbourg.
Career
During the periods of 1738–1741 and 1743–1745, D'Angeac was a lieutenant and sometimes seved as commandant at Port-Dauphin. D'Angeac helped defend Louisbourg during the 1745 siege of LouisbourgSiege of Louisbourg (1745)
The Siege of Louisbourg took place in 1745 when a New England colonial force aided by a British fleet captured Louisbourg, the capital of the French province of Île-Royale during the War of the Austrian Succession, known as King George's War in the British colonies.Although the Fortress of...
by 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...
forces, but after the defeat, he left for France where he recruited troops for colonial companies. He was promoted to captain in 1747, and accompanied Île Royale’s garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
to Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
before returning to Louisbourg in 1749 upon its reeoccupation by France. From 1751 to 1758, he served as commandant of Port-Dauphin supervising outpost reconstruction. He was awarded the Cross of the Order of Saint-Louis in 1754 (his father had received it in 1724). D'Angeac sustained a chest wound during the 1758 siege of Louisbourg
Siege of Louisbourg (1758)
The Siege of Louisbourg was a pivotal battle of the Seven Years' War in 1758 which ended the French colonial era in Atlantic Canada and led directly to the loss of Quebec in 1759 and the remainder of French North America the following year.-Background:The British government realized that with the...
.
In 1760, Captain D’Angeac was placed in command of French reinforcement troops sent to Canada to aid the commander of the French fleet, François Chenard de La Giraudais, prior to the Battle of Restigouche
Battle of Restigouche
The Battle of Restigouche was a naval battle fought during the French and Indian War on the Restigouche River between the British Royal Navy and the small flotilla of French Navy vessels. The French vessels had been sent to relieve New France after the fall of Quebec...
. His squadron was defeated on 8 July 1760 by Captain John Byron
John Byron
Vice Admiral The Hon. John Byron, RN was a Royal Navy officer. He was known as Foul-weather Jack because of his frequent bad luck with weather.-Early career:...
's British naval squadron, the last naval engagement of 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...
. However, D'Angeac organized thousands of Acadian
Acadian
The Acadians are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia . Acadia was a colony of New France...
s and Indians and bolstered French defenses. Though there was ultimately an order to surrender, D’Angeac was defiant, until finally agreeing to terms.
Governor
With the signing of the 1763 Treaty of ParisTreaty of Paris (1763)
The Treaty of Paris, often called the Peace of Paris, or the Treaty of 1763, was signed on 10 February 1763, by the kingdoms of Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal in agreement. It ended the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War...
, the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon became a new French colony, replacing Louisbourg as France's sedentary fishery base and deep-sea fishing fleet refuge. When D’Angeac was appointed governor, Sir Charles Douglas
Sir Charles Douglas, 1st Baronet
Rear Admiral Sir Charles Douglas, 1st Baronet of Carr was a descendant of the Earls of Morton and a distinguished British naval officer...
delayed D'Angeac while Captain James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
worked quickly to complete his survey of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. D'Angeac served as governor from 15 June 1763 to 31 July 1773. His relations with Newfoundland's governor, Hugh Palliser
Hugh Palliser
Admiral Sir Hugh Palliser, 1st Baronet was an officer of the British Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War...
, were strained; Palliser's letters were considered rude.
D'Angeac requested permission to retire in 1765; it was denied. He was promoted to Brigadier des armées of the line infantry
Line infantry
Line infantry is a type of infantry which composed the basis of European land armies from the middle of the 17th century to the middle of the 19th century....
in 1770. Two years later, he left the island of Saint-Pierre for France. With his recommendation, he was succeeded by his nephew, Charles Gabriel Sébastien, Baron de l'Espérance (1725, Louisbourg; died 1791).
Personal life
On 31 December 1735, in Louisbourg, he married Geneviève (sister of Jean-François Lefebvre de Bellefeuille). They had seven children.D'Angeac retired to Soubise, Charente-Maritime
Soubise, Charente-Maritime
Soubise is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in southwestern France.It is situated on the left bank of the Charente River opposite Rochefort and is a former shipbuilding centre.-Population:-References:*...
, France where he died in 1782.