Charles of Boische

Charles of Boische, marquis de Beauharnois (October 12th 1671 - July 12th 1749) was governor of News-France of 1726 with 1746. Born close to Orleans, he is the brother of François de Beauharnois of Chaussaye, which was intendant of the colony between 1702 and 1705. His/her sister, Jeanne-Elisabeth, married Michel Bégon of Picardière, him also intendant, of 1710 to 1726.

Military formation

Charles begins his military career in the navy. He at sea spends twenty years to fight the English fleet during the Guerre of the League of Augsburg and the War of succession of Spain. He takes share inter alia with the Bataille of Hougue in 1692. In 1698, it accompanies Pierre LeMoyne d' Iberville, whose forwarding tries to redécouvrir the mouth of the Mississippi. In 1707, it is him which orders the vessel corsair Achilles , who takes fire whereas it attacks a British convoy with broad of the course Lizard. On its return in France, it is received as hero.

In August 1716, whereas it has nearly 45 years, it marries Renee Pays, a widowed rich person, and becomes thus Master of a handsome fortune whose most important incomes come from a plantation of cane to sugar to Saint-Domingue. This marriage, of interest more than of love, will not be happy since Renee Pays initiates a procedure of separation since 1721, procedure which will last besides of the years since Beauharnois will try to make trail the things in length.

The defense of the colony

When the governor of News-France, Philippe de Rigaud of Vaudreuil dies, in October 1725, Beauharnois requests the station for itself. The Minister for the Navy, Maurepas, agrees to give it to him. He is the first naval officer to be reached this function.

Beauharnois arrives at Quebec in a context of “cold war”. Although there is not a true war between French and British, the British News-France and colonies dispute the trade of draft and Indian alliances and dream of a forthcoming revenge.

The British are in possession of the Acadie since 1713 and try to make enter Abénakis, with horse between the two colonies, in their network of alliances. By negotiation, Beauharnois succeeds in keeping them on its side.

More in the west, the Iroquois practice a policy of balance between the two rivals. They accept that the British build strong Oswego, on the edges of the Lake Ontario, thus competing with strong French the Niagara and Frontenac. On its side, Beauharnois prohibited to the French who would be tempted there to go to sell their furs Oswego at the height.

It also makes build the strong Saint-Frederic (Crown Point) with the sources of the Lac Champlain, in order to prevent the British from being established there.

Extermination of the Foxes

The most contestable policy of the Beauharnois governor is that concerning the relations with the Renards, an Indian tribe located at the accesses of the river to the Foxes, between the Higher Lac and the Lake Michigan. As of the beginning, it has a tooth against them, whereas they attack with repetition the Illinois, a allied tribe. In 1728, it sends a troop ordered by Constant of Lignery to subject them. Forwarding is a total failure because of the commander who transformed it into forwarding of draft for his personal ends.

In 1730, Beauharnois sends a new troop of 1400 men in the area. This time, they attack the Foxes whereas those tried to take refuge at Tsonnontouans. Several hundreds of Indians are killed, the others are taken along like slaves.

In 1733, Kiala, pricipal chief of the Foxes (or rather of what in remainder) tries to negotiate a peace with Beauharnois. The governor seizes some and sends it to Martinique like slave. The last remaining Foxes, which are not exterminated, will take refuge at the close tribes, the Sioux inter alia.

This policy of extermination shakes alliance with the Indians of the area. Thus, the problem that the French had with the Foxes is transferred at the Sioux which prevent the Alliance Fran1caise with the Cris and the Sauteux with which the explorer Vérendrye had tied contacts at the time of its voyage towards the Rocky Mountains. Beauharnois is finally obliged to drop the Cries to sign a precarious peace with the Sioux in 1743.

Relations with the intendants

The relations between Beauharnois and the intendants are not very cordial. The first with which it has to make is Claude-Thomas Dupuy, which is baffled with him for questions of precedence. The two men become so hostile one towards the other that Maurepas is obliged to interfere itself. Dupuy is recalled in 1728.

The following year, arrives Gilles Hocquart. With him, the relations are tended, although the new intendant has sometimes contrary principles and goals with those of the governor. He wants to create the factory of the Forges of the Saint-Maurice to Three-Rivers. He wants to also build a road between Quebec and Montreal. These projects make that it crosses in the military budget, which does not make the deal of Beauharnois, which always apprehends a war between France and Great Britain.

Threats of war

In 1739, bursts the war hispano-British. Envisaging an entry with more or less long run of France in the conflict, Beauharnois makes increase the garrisons at the forts Saint-Frederic, the Niagara and Frontenac and orders the creation of patrols along the borders.

In 1744, France and Great Britain clash in the War of succession of Austria. Beauharnois launches some small incursions against the strong British delicatessens of the area of the Ohio. He would like to reinforce the fortifications with Quebec by building a wall on the side exposed to an attack by ground, but the limits of its budget do not allow it to him. It makes all the same install a palisade along the river Saint-Charles and, in 1745, begins the erection of the projected wall. Maurepas, informed, orders the suspension at once of it.

In 1746, Beauharnois is 76 years old. Maurepas, convinced that a younger man must direct the operations, points out it. He dies three years later the July 12th 1749. He is buried in the parish Saint-Saver, in Paris.

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