Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre
| Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre | |
|---|---|
| Born |
October 24, 1701 Montreal |
| Died | September 8, 1755 (aged 53) Lake George (New York) |
| Allegiance |
 France
|
| Service/branch | French Troupes de la marine |
| Rank | Commandeur/Commandant |
| Commands held | Fort Beauharnois, Fort Le Jonquière , Ohio Country |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Order of Saint Louis |
Chickasaw Wars
King George's War
Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre (October 24, 1701 – September 8, 1755) was a Canadian colonial military commander and explorer who held posts throughout North America in the 18th century.
He traced his lineage to a number of New France's prominent families. He was a grandson of Jean-Baptiste Legardeur de Repentigny (who had been elected the first mayor of Quebec City on October 17, 1663 and founded Repentigny, Quebec in 1670) and a great-grandson of explorer Jean Nicollet de Belleborne. Most immediately however, his father Jean-Paul was an adventurer and had founded a post at Chagouamigon in what is now Wisconsin in 1718. It is believed that Jacques spent a number of years there with his father where he obtained an excellent knowledge of the Indian languages and the business conducted in the trading posts.
In 1724 he began military service as a second ensign with the colonial regular troops. Because of his skills as an interpreter, his early active duty involved building loyalty and support among the Ojibwa, Cree, and Sioux to assist the French in future campaigns against other Indian tribes. From 1734 to 1737, he was commandant at Fort Beauharnois (on Lake Pepin, along the present day Wisconsin-Minnesota border) and caught in the middle of tribal rivalries. Fearing for himself and his garrison, he abandoned and burned the fort in May 1737.
From 1737 to 1740 he campaigned against the Chickasaws and drew praise for his skills in dealing with the Indians. In 1741 he made lieutenant and was commandant of the Miami post near what is now known as Fort Wayne, Indiana for a short while. From 1745–1747 he was stationed at Montreal and carried out many military assignments, including a raid on the British colonial settlement of Saratoga, New York. In 1747 he and Louis de la Corne fought the British and their Indian allies in the Lachine area.
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