Luc de la Corne
Encyclopedia
Luc de la Corne, also known as Saint Luc, was the son of Jean-Louis de La Corne and the brother of Louis de la Corne, Chevalier de la Corne
. As in the case of most of his contemporaries, he was an officer in the colonial regular troops. He had a varied and courageous military career which earned him the cross of Saint Louis
in 1759. Present at both the battle of Fort William Henry during the French and Indian War and Saratoga during the American Revolution, Saint Luc is a little known figure who played a major role in American and Canadian history. He is most famous for returning from a shipwreck off the coast of Cape Breton Nova Scotia, during the dead of winter, to Quebec, a trek of seventeen hundred miles.
He became a very successful merchant and was heavily involved in the Montreal end of the fur trade
. His brother, Jean-Louis, was heavily involved in the fur trade and exploration and Luc controlled the eastern end of his activities. Another brother, François-Josué de La Corne was the commandant of Fort Kaministiquia
for a time and large fur trade profits were realized. He was in partnership with Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye
for three years south of Lake Superior. In the same period his brother, Louis de la Corne was commandant of the western forts founded mainly by La Vérendrye. Most of his ventures made large profits and, at the time of his death, he was one of the richest men in Canada.
French and Indian War
Luc de la Corne was an interpreter for Louis-Joseph de Montcalm
at the Massacre of Fort William Henry
. Saint Luc was held partially responsible for the attack on the British troops and was dismissed.
In 1761, Luc was returning to France, when his ship Auguste
ran into terrible weather and sank. The seven endured some terrible hardships but eventually found themselves back in Montreal. The feat made Saint Luc de la Corne famous in Quebec.
American Revolution
During the American Revolution Saint Luc reappeared as an interpreter for John Burgoyne
during his trek to Saratoga. During this campaign two natives of Saint Luc's detachment were found responsible for the killing of Jane McCrea.
Louis de la Corne, Chevalier de la Corne
Louis de la Corne or Louis Chapt, Chevalier de la Corne was born at Fort Frontenac in what is now Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and began his career in the colonial regular troops as a second ensign in 1722 and was made full ensign five years later.He married in 1728 and began investing heavily in...
. As in the case of most of his contemporaries, he was an officer in the colonial regular troops. He had a varied and courageous military career which earned him the cross of Saint Louis
Order of Saint Louis
The Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis was a military Order of Chivalry founded on 5 April 1693 by Louis XIV and named after Saint Louis . It was intended as a reward for exceptional officers, and is notable as the first decoration that could be granted to non-nobles...
in 1759. Present at both the battle of Fort William Henry during the French and Indian War and Saratoga during the American Revolution, Saint Luc is a little known figure who played a major role in American and Canadian history. He is most famous for returning from a shipwreck off the coast of Cape Breton Nova Scotia, during the dead of winter, to Quebec, a trek of seventeen hundred miles.
He became a very successful merchant and was heavily involved in the Montreal end of the fur trade
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
. His brother, Jean-Louis, was heavily involved in the fur trade and exploration and Luc controlled the eastern end of his activities. Another brother, François-Josué de La Corne was the commandant of Fort Kaministiquia
Fort Kaministiquia
Fort Camanistigoyan, now standardized as Fort Kaministiquia, located at the mouth of the Kaministiquia River on Lake Superior in what is now northwestern Ontario, Canada, was established in 1717 by Zacharie Robutel de la Noue following the restoration of the system of trading permits by...
for a time and large fur trade profits were realized. He was in partnership with Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye
Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye
Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye was a French Canadian fur trader and explorer who took part in extending these activities westerly from the Great Lakes during the eighteenth century, an enterprise for which he and other members of his family were largely responsible...
for three years south of Lake Superior. In the same period his brother, Louis de la Corne was commandant of the western forts founded mainly by La Vérendrye. Most of his ventures made large profits and, at the time of his death, he was one of the richest men in Canada.
French and Indian War
Luc de la Corne was an interpreter for 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...
at the Massacre of Fort William Henry
Fort William Henry
Fort William Henry was a British fort at the southern end of Lake George in the province of New York. It is best known as the site of notorious atrocities committed by Indians against the surrendered British and provincial troops following a successful French siege in 1757, an event which is the...
. Saint Luc was held partially responsible for the attack on the British troops and was dismissed.
In 1761, Luc was returning to France, when his ship Auguste
Auguste (ship)
Auguste was a full rigged sailing ship which sank at Aspy Bay, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia in 1761 while carrying exiles from the fall of New France. Auguste was a former French privateer ship which had been captured by the British and converted to a merchant ship...
ran into terrible weather and sank. The seven endured some terrible hardships but eventually found themselves back in Montreal. The feat made Saint Luc de la Corne famous in Quebec.
American Revolution
During the American Revolution Saint Luc reappeared as an interpreter for John Burgoyne
John Burgoyne
General John Burgoyne was a British army officer, politician and dramatist. He first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several battles, mostly notably during the Portugal Campaign of 1762....
during his trek to Saratoga. During this campaign two natives of Saint Luc's detachment were found responsible for the killing of Jane McCrea.