Jean Philippe Goujon de Grondel
Encyclopedia
Jean Philippe Goujon de Grondel (Saverne
, Alsace
, November 27, 1714 - Salins
, France
, 1819) was a French general.
He was sent as a young officer to Louisiana
, where he distinguished himself in the wars against the Chickasaws and was wounded in the battle of Ackia
in 1736. After his marriage in 1741, he was employed in various military expeditions and diplomatic negotiations with native American peoples
, until 1750 when he became a captain of the Swiss grenadiers of Louisiana, and was awarded the Cross of St. Louis for his services in 1753. In 1758, he settled as a planter in New Orleans, but the following year became embroiled in a quarrel with Governor Kerlerec, who accused him of insubordination and other offenses, for which he was thrown into prison for three years, and, in 1762, deported back to France to be prosecuted.
In 1765 he was eventually imprisoned in the Bastille
but only for two weeks. Judgment in his trial was finally rendered in 1769, in his favor; soon after he was appointed lieutenant-colonel. Louisiana having been ceded to Spain
, Grondel was appointed in 1772 to the command of the naval base at Lorient
, and rose to the rank of brigadier-general in 1788. In 1792, during the French Revolution
, he was denounced as an aristocrat and thrown into prison, but once again, for just a few days; and almost immediately upon his release he was elected by the inhabitants of Nemours
commanding general of the national guards of their city, serving until the following year. Having quelled a riot in town between rival military units by firmness and personal courage, he was voted thanks by the municipal authorities for his noble conduct.
In 1796 he retired to Salins, near Montereau-Fault-Yonne
, and died in 1819 at the age of 105.
Saverne
Saverne is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France. It is situated on the Rhine-Marne canal at the foot of a pass over the Vosges Mountains, and 45 km N.W...
, Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, November 27, 1714 - Salins
Salins, Seine-et-Marne
Salins is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* * *...
, France
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...
, 1819) was a French general.
He was sent as a young officer to Louisiana
Louisiana (New France)
Louisiana or French Louisiana was an administrative district of New France. Under French control from 1682–1763 and 1800–03, the area was named in honor of Louis XIV, by French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle...
, where he distinguished himself in the wars against the Chickasaws and was wounded in the battle of Ackia
Battle of Ackia
-Introduction:The Chickasaw Campaign of 1736 consisted of two pitched battles by the French and allies against Chickasaw fortified villages in present day Northeast Mississippi. Under the overall direction of the governor of Louisiana, Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, a force from Upper...
in 1736. After his marriage in 1741, he was employed in various military expeditions and diplomatic negotiations with native American peoples
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, until 1750 when he became a captain of the Swiss grenadiers of Louisiana, and was awarded the Cross of St. Louis for his services in 1753. In 1758, he settled as a planter in New Orleans, but the following year became embroiled in a quarrel with Governor Kerlerec, who accused him of insubordination and other offenses, for which he was thrown into prison for three years, and, in 1762, deported back to France to be prosecuted.
In 1765 he was eventually imprisoned in the Bastille
Bastille
The Bastille was a fortress in Paris, known formally as the Bastille Saint-Antoine. It played an important role in the internal conflicts of France and for most of its history was used as a state prison by the kings of France. The Bastille was built in response to the English threat to the city of...
but only for two weeks. Judgment in his trial was finally rendered in 1769, in his favor; soon after he was appointed lieutenant-colonel. Louisiana having been ceded to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Grondel was appointed in 1772 to the command of the naval base at Lorient
Lorient
Lorient, or L'Orient, is a commune and a seaport in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France.-History:At the beginning of the 17th century, merchants who were trading with India had established warehouses in Port-Louis...
, and rose to the rank of brigadier-general in 1788. In 1792, during the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, he was denounced as an aristocrat and thrown into prison, but once again, for just a few days; and almost immediately upon his release he was elected by the inhabitants of Nemours
Nemours
Nemours is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-Geography:Nemours is located on the Loing and its canal, c...
commanding general of the national guards of their city, serving until the following year. Having quelled a riot in town between rival military units by firmness and personal courage, he was voted thanks by the municipal authorities for his noble conduct.
In 1796 he retired to Salins, near Montereau-Fault-Yonne
Montereau-Fault-Yonne
Montereau-Fault-Yonne, or simply Montereau, is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-Name:...
, and died in 1819 at the age of 105.
External links
- Biographical sketch in Charles GayarréCharles GayarréCharles Etienne Arthur Gayarre was an American historian born in New Orleans, Louisiana. A historian and a writer of plays, essays, and novels, he is chiefly remembered for his histories of Louisiana....
's History of Louisiana