Jacques-Pierre de Taffanel de la Jonquière, Marquis de la Jonquière

Who was Jacques-Pierre de Taffanel de la Jonquière, Marquis de la Jonquière?

Jacques-Pierre de Taffanel de la Jonquière was a French admiral and Governor General of New France from March 1, 1749 until his death in 1752.

De la Jonquière was born near Albi. He joined the navy when he was twelve, and fought under the Duguay-Trouin and in the Battle of Toulon.

In 1746, he sailed on the famous and ill-fated Duc d'Anville Expedition.

In 1747, after a brave defence, he was defeated in the Battle of Cape Finisterre by George Anson.

As Governor General, he was considered to be a good administrator if not the bravest of men in the political and economic upheavals of the time. The opposite was true of his naval career where his twenty-nine campaigns and nine combats showed a man of great courage.

It is widely believed that de la Jonquière personally profited from the monopoly which governed the fur trade at the time, even though his administrative position should have caused him to abstain from that type of commercial activity. He did use his considerable military skills to build up the military strength of New France in the face of an increasing British threat.