Louis Coulon de Villiers
| Louis Coulon de Villiers | |
|---|---|
| Born |
August 17, 1710 Verchères, Quebec, Canada |
| Died | November 2, 1757 (aged 47) Quebec City, Quebec, Canada |
| Allegiance |
 New France
|
| Years of service | 1733 - 1757 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Posted to Fort Duquesne |
| Battles/wars | Battle of the Great Meadows, Battle of Minas, Le Moyne de Bienville’s 1739 campaign |
| Relations |
Nicolas Antoine Coulon de Villiers Joseph Coulon de Jumonville Chevalier François Coulon de Villiers |
Nicolas Antoine Coulon de Villiers Joseph Coulon de Jumonville
Sieur Louis Coulon de Villiers (17 August 1710 – 2 November 1757) was a French Canadian military officer during the French and Indian War (Seven Years' War). Perhaps his greatest claim to fame is the fact that he is the only military opponent to force George Washington to surrender.
Coulon was born into a prominent French Canadian family. His grandfather, Sieur Raoul-Guillaume Coulon, was a commandant in the French royal army. He was the son of Nicolas Antoine Coulon de Villiers and Elizabeth Le Couturier. Louis Coulon de Villiers entered the military in 1733. He had risen to the rank of captain by the outbreak of the French and Indian War and was assigned to Fort Duquesne.
His half-brother, Ensign Joseph Coulon de Jumonville, was killed by George Washington and his men after surrendering at the Battle of Jumonville Glen. Coulon sought justice and led an expedition to attack the British garrison at Fort Necessity under the command of George Washington.
On the morning of July 3, 1754, Coulon's troops attacked Fort Necessity (See Battle of the Great Meadows). By evening, the British had asked for terms of surrender. It was the only time in Washington's long military career when he surrendered to an enemy.
Coulon considered Washington personally responsible for his brother's death. He inserted a clause into the surrender document that described Jumonville's death as an "assassination". They read as follows:
…Since our intention [as Canadiens] was never to disturb the peace and harmony which exist between two friends as two Prince allies, but only to avenge the assassination of one of our officers, messenger of a summon, and of his escorts, to prevent any establishment on the lands of her majesty, the King of France, my master. (abstract)
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