François de Souillac

Who is François de Souillac?

François, Vicomte de Souillac was born on 2 July 1732 in Périgord. He was Governor of Réunion, Governor General of the Mascarene Islands and Pondichéry. He entered the navy in 1749 and he was named governor of Bourbon on 23 December 1775. On 15 October 1776 the Governor De Souillac created by ordinance, the "Quartier du Repos de Laleu". The ordinance of 8 March 1777 tried to moralise the hunt for the runaway slaves.

On 1 May 1779 he became Governor General by interim of the islands of Mauritius and Bourbon. On 30 January 1780 he was confirmed in that post. As Governor General, the interests of the Isle de France became his first concern. Thus in Bourbon he requisitioned the 200 best blacks of the King's Workshops for the needs of Mauritius. He left the area in 1787 and died in 1803.

Today a village of Mauritius is named after him. There is a street named after him in Pondicherry. A small beach in the Port Glaud district of Mahé, Seychelles is named "Anse Souillac" after him.