Monarch Louis XIV Name Louis-Hector Calliere Parents Jacques de Callieres Relations Francois de Callieres | Religion Roman Catholic Role Politician Succeeded by Francois Provost | |
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Preceded by Thomas Tarieu de LaNouguere Preceded by Louis de Buade de Frontenac Born 12 November 1648
Torigni-sur-Vire, Manche ( 1648-11-12 ) Died May 26, 1703, Quebec City, Canada | ||
Louis-Hector de Calliere or Callieres (12 November 1648 – 26 May 1703) was a French politician, who was the governor of Montreal (1684–1699), and the governor of New France from 1698 to 1703. He played an important role in defining the strategy that New France followed during the Queen Anne's War.
De Calliere was born in Thorigny-sur-Vire, Lower Normandy. He received his background experience for the position of governor of New France as the governor of Montreal from 1684 to 1699. During his era there, the Iroquois war had enhanced the importance of that position. He conducted himself so well during this period that he was awarded the prestigious cross of Saint-Louis in 1694 partly under the recommendation of Buade de Frontenac.
Family
He was the son of Jacques de Callieres, governor of Cherbourg and the author of La Fortune des gens de qualite et des gentilshommes particuliers, enseignant l'art de vivre a la cour suivant les maximes de la politique et de la morale ("The Fortune of people of quality and private gentlemen, teaching the art of living at court according to the maxims of politics and morality").
Francois de Callieres, the eldest son, was elected to the French Academy in 1689 and also served with distinction in Louis XIV’s diplomatic corps. In 1701, thanks to his ability to imitate the royal handwriting and to his mastery of the French language, succeeded Toussaint Rose as the secretary "who held the pen." His duties, designed to save the monarch time and fatigue, consisted of writing in a hand and style similar to those of the king letters and memoirs to dignitaries and foreign heads of state and of signing them with the royal name. Such a position of trust gave Callieres great power which he frequently used to further the career of Louis-Hector in Canada.