|| Index | Timeline | Economy | People | Places | New Orleans | Maps | Documents | Reference ||
!   Contact Encyclopedia Louisiana   ?


Louis Billouart de Kerlerec
1704-1770

French Governor of Louisiana (1753-1763)
1704
June 27
Born in Quimper, France, son of Cuillaume Billouart, Sieur de Quervasegan, and Louise de Lansullyen.
1718-1720
Serves as a volunleer seaman in three French naval campaigns, the third campaign takes him to Louisiana.
1721
March 25
Commissioned as a navy guard at Rochefort and later sails aboard the Dromadaire. Late in 1721, he obtains command of the frigate Flore, a merchant vessel engaged in the Antilles and West African trade.
1722
Sails to Cayenne and Martinique aboard the Portefaix, 1722. Late in the year he reenters the French navy.
1726
December 9
Kerlerec is assigned to Brest for a voyage to Cadiz but falls ill and remains in the naval bureau at Brest for one and a half years.
1729
Assigned to patrol duty off Malta aboard the Amazone.
1730
Participates in the French campaign against the Natchez Indians in Louisiana.
1731
Kerlerec returns to Brest and is promotcd to ship's ensign.
1732
Participates in French naval operations against Barbary pirates.
1733-1734
Serves as an aide-major in the Calais garrison.
1734-1737
Participates in three routine tours of duty aboard a French men-of war.
1740
Kerlerec is severely wounded in the back during an engagement with a British squadron off Saint-Domingue. The British claim that they have mistaken the French ships for hostile Spanish forces.
1741
Promoted to ship's lieutenant.
1742-1745
Assigned to convoy duty in the Atlantic.
1745
Participates in an abortive attempt to lift the siege of Louisbourg, 1745.
1746
This is followed by another naval engagement with British ships near the northern coast of Saint-Domingue. He receives injuries to his right foot and his ears during a battle between British and French fleets; Kerlerec commands the frigate Neptune during the engagement. Kerlerec is captured when forced to surrender his sinking vessel and is taken to the prisoner-of-war camp at Spithead.
1750
Returns to France following the War of the Austrian Succession, and is given command of the naval frigate Favorite.
1751
Promoted to ship's captain.
1752
February
Commissioned Governor of Louisiana.
1753
Kerlerec replaces Vaudruil as governor of Louisiana.
Despite total French neglect of the colony during the Seven Years' War, Kerlerec manages to maintian aggressive defense of the Mississippi Valley, by funneling Louisiana's meager military resources into the Fort Duquesne area and by first luring the Cherokee out of the English camp and then mobilizing them against their former allies.
1758-1762
Engaged in a bitter intragovernmental struggle with Ordonnateur (Intendent) Vincent de Rochemore, which cripples Louisiana's civilian government.
1760
Kerlerec gains the upper hand in the struggle by having Rochemore placed under his control and later by having him recalled to France.
1763
Rochemore uses his own political influence to have Kerlerec recalled. Upon return to France in 1763, Kerlerec is imprisoned in the Bastille to face charges of malfeasance brought against him by Rochemore.
1769
August 12
Kerlerec is exiled from Paris and ordered to remain at ]east 30 leagues from any royal residence.
1770
ca. September 3
Legally exonerated of all charges against him.
1770
September 8
Dies in Paris.
Please watch this space for more information in the future


|| Return to Top ||


||Documents | Economy | French Quarter | Index | Timeline | Maps | People | Places | Reference ||
Contact Encyclopedia Louisiana  

11/28/01   7:53 PM

  Search by: 


Encyclopedia Louisiana
Your questions, comments and contributions to this page are welcomed.


Copyright©1998 Encyclopedia Louisiana
Scripting, Graphics Copyright©1998 Welcome Ink
Updated: Thursday, December 20, 2001