Jacques Testard de Montigny

Jacques Testard de Montigny (1663–1737) was an officer in the

French Marines in Canada

.

Biography

Born in

Battle of Fundy Bay

.)While posted there he also engaged in trade and commerce, sometimes in conflict with his military duties.

In 1696 Montigny was on d'Iberville's

Newfoundland campaign later in 1696, in which most of the English settlements on Newfoundland were destroyed. Montigny was given an independent command by d'Iberville, in which he traveled along the coast, destroying settlements and fishing stages

as he went. Despite the destructive nature of the expedition, it had no long-lasting implications, as the English quickly returned, rebuilding and fortifying some of the settlements.

Montigny was promoted to lieutenant in 1700. In 1704 he was sent back to Acadia, where he helped orchestrate raids against English settlements, and worked to convince the Abenakis to resettle closer to French settlements. In the winter of 1704/5 he brought a band of Abenakis to Newfoundland, where they attempted to repeated d'Iberville's 1696 expedition under the direction of Daniel d'Auger de Subercase. They once again destroyed a number of English settlements, but were unable to capture St. John's, the English capital.

In 1706 Montigny went to France with Escumbuit, where they were received by

Fox, and was visited by his friend Escumbuit. By 1726 he had returned to Montreal, and in 1730 he was made commandant of Fort Michilimackinac

, a post he held for three years before finally retiring.

He died in Montreal in 1737. He was twice married, and had seven children.

References

Dechêne, Louise (1979) [1969]. "Testard de Montigny, Jacque". In Hayne, David (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. II (1701–1740) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. Retrieved 2011-04-09.

Biography

See also

References