Charles de la Boische, Marquis de Beauharnois

Charles de la Boische, Marquis de Beauharnois (c.12 October 1671 12 July 1749) was a French Naval officer who served as Governor of New France from 1726 to 1746.

Charles de la Boische, Marquis de Beauharnois
Born(1671-10-12)12 October 1671
Orléans, France
Died12 July 1749(1749-07-12) (aged 77)
Paris, France
OccupationCareer in the Marines, Governor General of New France

Charles had two brothers who also impacted the history of New France. Claude de Beauharnois was a French Naval officer who spent time commanding ships that maintained supply lines to the colony and François de Beauharnois was intendant of New France for a time.

The governor worked well with frontier traders, explorers, and missionaries. His term saw a great expansion in the number of western forts with the leadership of people like La Vérendrye, and the linkage of Canadian and Louisiana colonies. Exploration was pushed west to the Rocky Mountains by La Vérendrye and his sons.

Despite a generally peaceful and prosperous administration, he was blamed for the fall of Fortress Louisbourg in 1745, and was recalled in 1746, returning to France to following year.

Many places carry his name including the town of Beauharnois, Quebec and Fort Beauharnois, Minnesota.

  • Standen, S. Dale (1974). "Beauharnois de la Boische, Charles de, Marquis de Beauharnois". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. III (1741–1770) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
Government offices
Preceded by
Philippe de Rigaud Vaudreuil
Governor General of New France
1726 1746
Succeeded by
Comte de La Galissonnière


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