Date Published:
July 2007

L’Encyclopédie de l’histoire du Québec / The Quebec History Encyclopedia

Michel-Ange Duquesne-Menneville

Marquis de Duquesne

Governor-General of New France

Duquesne, Michel-Ange Duquesne-Menneville, Marquis de (1701-1778), governor of New France (1752-5), was the son of Alexandre Duquesne-Monnier and Ursule Possel. He entered the navy at an early age, and became successively ensign (1727), lieutenant (1735), and major (1746). On March 1, 1752, he was appointed governor of New France, and was given the title of Marquis. His policy as governor was to intercept communication between New England and the western Indians, and in 1753 he sent a force to the Ohio district to build forts and institute war if necessary. Owing to disease, the troops were forced to return; nevertheless, the Indians were brought into submission to the French. Duquesne resigned his governorship in 1755, and returned to France. In January, 1763, he was made a commander of St. Louis. He retired from service on April 8, 1776, and died at Antony on September 17, 1778. See R. Roy, «Le gouverneur Du Quesne» (Bull. rech. hist., vol. xii).

Source: W. Stewart WALLACE, The Encyclopedia of Canada, Vol. II, Toronto, University Associates of Canada, 1948, 411p., pp. 252-253.