Jean-Michel de Lespinay

Jean-Michel de Lespinay (-January 3, 1721) was a French officer in Canada and governor of Louisiana and Grenada.

Biography

Jean-Michel de Lespinay was born in Fougères, in Brittany, France. After joining the French Army, Lespinay immigrated to Canada as an ensign in 1687, being promoted to lieutenant renovated in 1690 and lieutenant in pied in 1691.

That same year he was appointed, upon request, by Buade of Frontenac, Captain port of Quebec. These functions do not include additional fees and Frontenac renewed it for the same post on October 24, 1694, requesting the commission of the king, as he had no cost to the king. But Lespinay decided to leave Canada, where he served for eight years, and asked permission to go to France and go about their family affairs. Frontenac struggled to retain hold the promise of making progress, but without success. On April 20, 1695, he received a one-year license and did not return. On May 5, 1695, he attained the rank of lieutenant Rochefort. Thus, the May 1, 1698, he obtained permission to stay in France to serve as deputy Rochefort. We know nothing of his activities during the following years.

Lespinay was appointed governor of Louisiana on March 12, 1716. He left Ludlow, France on December 21. He took office in February 1717. To attach your interests, Crozat gave him quite significant financial benefits, especially an interest rate of 2 percent of all products exported by the colony.

Before leaving, the new governor had sought the cross of San Luis, for, according to him, increase their prestige in the eyes of the Amerindians, because that was a mark of distinction between military who participated in the wars in France. He obtained the cross on October 21, 1716. Since he arrived in the colony, he already assumed many more powers than its predecessor, Cadillac, resulting in a strong rejection of him in the colony. In addition, he became very arrogant with respect to the population of Louisiana and he tried hard to indigenous people. He related some with the Amerindians. Lespinay suspended the establishment of the Board of Governors.

The Hubert official even expressed doubts about the honesty of the governor whom he accused of leading a scandalous life. All these criticisms, Crozat's resignation and transfer from Louisiana under the authority of the company Western John Law, caused, in late 1717, the return of Lespinay. In November 1717, he was appointed governor of Grenada. On May 18, 1720, he left the island of Aix en Atalanta to join his new government of Grenada, where he landed on 28 June. After a brief stay he died six months later (on January 3, 1721), in Fort Royal (Martinique).^[1]

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