Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry

Who was Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry?

Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry, his first name was also sometimes written Joseph-Gaspard. He was a military engineer and a political figure in Lower Canada. During the Seven Years War he proved himself to be an outstanding officer and was one of only a few colonial officers held in high esteem by the Marquis de Montcalm. In recognition of his military service, in 1759 he was made a Chevalier of the Order of Saint Louis. n 1763, after the British Conquest of New France, he and his wife, Louise Martel de Brouage, were the first French Canadian couple to be presented to the English Court, drawing the compliment from King George III that if all Canadian ladies resembled Mme de Léry then he had "indeed made a conquest".