Montcalm De Saint Veran, Louis Joseph, Marquis De
MONTCALM DE SAINT VERAN, LOUIS JOSEPH, MARQUIS DE (1712-1759), French soldier, was born at Condiac near Nimes on the 28th of February I7i2, 2 and entered the army in 1721, becoming captain in 1727. He saw active service under Berwick on the Rhine in 1733, and in 1743, having become a colonel of infantry, he served in Bohemia under Maillebois, Broglie and Belleisle. He became intimate with Francois de Chevert (1695-1769), the gallant defender of Prague, and in Italy repeatedly distinguished himself, being promoted brigadier in 1747, shortly before the disastrous action of Exilles, in which he was severely wounded. In 1749 he received the colonelcy of a cavalry regiment, and in 1756, with the rank of marechal de camp, he was sent to command the French troops in Canada. In the third year of his command, having been meanwhile promoted lieutenant-general, he defended Quebec (q.v.) against General Wolfe. The celebrated siege ended with the battle 2 A younger brother, Jean Louis Pierre (or Philippe) Elizabeth Montcalm de Condiac (1719-1726), was a child of astonishing precocity. At the age of four he read Latin; at six he understood Greek and Hebrew. It was for his benefit that the bureau lypographique a mechanism for teaching children reading, writing and arithmetic at the same time that it amused them was contrived by their tutor Louis Dumas (1676-1744).
Note - this article incorporates content from Encyclopaedia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, (1910-1911)
