FRENCH COMMANDERS IN NORTH AMERICA

Introduction

France is a maritime nation with a history of exploration outside Europe. French fishermen and explorers led to French colonies in Canada, America, and the Caribbean. Identified below are many of their leaders. Dates indicate promotion or service. French Governors had additional military responsibilities in New France. I have not included all personalities, but enough to indicate national, colonial interest. There were also additional Dutch and Spanish appointments in nominally French (or British) possessions during this period. These colonies were used as pawns to help make peace at the end of various conflicts.

I have arbitrarily reduced all titles to an English style (capitalising most nouns) for conformity, lack of access to the original titles, and my own limited translation capabilities. The titles have been translated into French, since I thought it better to show bad French than none. (I have attempted to show more historically accurate titles in my list of explorers elsewhere at this site. That too is difficult since many historical figures are known for their exploits on behalf of other than their own native governments, so their names and titles are often translated into other languages.) Some titles may not be accurately translated here as sources are not always clear about precise titles, or accession dates relative to diplomatic, or military, appointments. Finally, there is some source conflict about the vicerroys: some of the figures below never left France and I suspect that acting authority was granted to men in Canada apparently creating doubled incumbents.

The following names are listed chronologically.

ENDNOTES