Louis Joseph Marquis de Montcalm de Saint-Véran

Louis Joseph Marquis de Montcalm de Saint-Véran (1712-59), French soldier, born near Nîmes. After serving in the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748), he was sent to New France (France's North American colonial empire) in 1756 as major general in command of French troops. Montcalm arrived in New France during the French and Indian War (1754-1763), fought between France and Great Britain. He successfully engaged the British at Fort Ontario, Fort William Henry, and Fort Ticonderoga. In 1759 lack of troops and provisions forced Montcalm to withdraw to Québec in the face of large British reinforcements. From July to September 1759 he defended the city against the forces of the British general James Wolfe. He was defeated on the Plains of Abraham on September 13. Both Montcalm and Wolfe were mortally wounded; Wolfe died on the battlefield, and Montcalm died the next day. Subsequently, Québec was surrendered to Great Britain; its fall was decisive in ending French power in North America.