List of commandants of the Illinois Country
Encyclopedia
The following is a list of commandants of the Illinois Country
, which came to be known sometime after 1718 as Upper Louisiana.
and Missouri River
basin above the mouth of the Arkansas River
.
awarded Great Britain
the east bank of the Mississippi, from below Baton Rouge northwards. From this time, Upper Louisiana referred only to the land west of the Mississippi River
, and above the mouth of the Arkansas River
.
. Jurisdiction was above the 33rd parallel on the west side of the Mississippi River.
Illinois Country
The Illinois Country , also known as Upper Louisiana, was a region in what is now the Midwestern United States that was explored and settled by the French during the 17th and 18th centuries. The terms referred to the entire Upper Mississippi River watershed, though settlement was concentrated in...
, which came to be known sometime after 1718 as Upper Louisiana.
French period
This period included the entire Mississippi RiverMississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
and Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
basin above the mouth of the Arkansas River
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
.
Commandants subordinate to Canada
- Robert de La SalleRené-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La SalleRené-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, or Robert de LaSalle was a French explorer. He explored the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada, the Mississippi River, and the Gulf of Mexico...
(1678–1683) - Henri de TontiHenri de TontiHenri de Tonti was an Italian-born soldier, explorer, and fur trader in the service of France.-Early life:Henri de Tonti, a Sicilian, was mostly likely born near Gaeta, Italy in either 1649 or 1650. He was the son of Lorenzo de Tonti, a financier and former governor of Gaeta...
(1682–1683) interim - Henri de Baugy (1683–1685)
- Henri de TontiHenri de TontiHenri de Tonti was an Italian-born soldier, explorer, and fur trader in the service of France.-Early life:Henri de Tonti, a Sicilian, was mostly likely born near Gaeta, Italy in either 1649 or 1650. He was the son of Lorenzo de Tonti, a financier and former governor of Gaeta...
(1685–1702) - François de La Forest (1700–1702)
- Pierre de Liette (1702–1718)
Commandants subordinate to Louisiana
- Pierre de BoisbriandPierre Dugué de BoisbriandPierre Dugué de Boisbriand was a Canadien who commanded several areas in North America colonized by France in the early 18th Century, rising to become the fourth governor of the French colony of Louisiana....
(1718–1725) - Robert de Saint-Ange (1730–1732)
- Pierre d'Artaguiette (1732–1736/7)
- Alphonse de La Buissonnière (1737–1740)
- Jean-Baptiste de Sainte-Claire (1740–1742) interim
- major de Bertet (1742–1749)
- Jean-Baptiste de Sainte-Claire (1749–1751), interim
- Barthélemy de Macarty-Mactigue (1751–1760)
- Pierre-Joseph Neyon de Villiers (1760–1764)
- Louis Saint-Ange de Bellerive (1764–1770)
Spanish period
After the Seven Years War ended in 1763, the 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...
awarded Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
the east bank of the Mississippi, from below Baton Rouge northwards. From this time, Upper Louisiana referred only to the land west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, and above the mouth of the Arkansas River
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
.
Commandants of Upper Louisiana
- don Francisco Rui (1767–1768)
- don Pedro Piernas (1768– ?)
- Louis Saint-Ange de Bellerive (? –1770)
Lieutenant Governors of Upper Louisiana
- Pedro Piernas (1770–1775)
- Francisco Cruzat (1775–1778)
- Fernando de LeybaFernando de LeybaDon Fernando de Leyba was a Spanish officer and politician who served as the third governor of Upper Louisiana from 1778 until his death.Little is known of De Leyba's life until his appointment to the position of governor on June 14, 1778...
(1778–June 28, 1780) - Francisco Cruzat (September 24, 1780–1787)
- Manuel Pérez (November 1787–1793)
- Zénon Trudeau (1793–1799)
- Charles de Hault Delassus (1799–1804)http://www.nps.gov/jeff/lewisclark2/circa1804/StLouis/BlockInfo/Block6CCharlesDelassus.htm
French Republic period
This period represents the few days the French under Napoleon controlled what became the Louisiana PurchaseLouisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition by the United States of America of of France's claim to the territory of Louisiana in 1803. The U.S...
. Jurisdiction was above the 33rd parallel on the west side of the Mississippi River.
- Amos StoddardAmos StoddardAmos Stoddard was born on October 26, 1762 to Anthony and Phebe Stoddard in Woodbury, Connecticut. He married Catherine Tallman. He died at Fort Meigs on May 11, 1813, where he was the artillery commander. Before this, he was commandant of Upper Louisiana.-Military and political career:He served...
(1804)