Montcalm | |
|---|---|
 Portrait by Antoine-François Sergent-Marceau | |
| Born | Chateau de Candiac, near Nîmes, France |
| Died | 14 September 1759 (aged 47) Plains of Abraham, Quebec City, Quebec (then New France) |
| Buried | Plains of Abraham, Quebec City, Quebec |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of France |
| Service |  Royal French Army |
| Years of service | 1721–1759 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands | Regiment d'Auxerrois Regiment de Montcalm Commander-in-chief, New France |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Order of Saint Louis |
| Spouse(s) | Angelique Louise Talon du Boulay |
| Signature |  |
Louis-Joseph de Montcalm-Gozon, Marquis de Montcalm de Saint-Veran (French pronunciation: [lwi ʒozɛf də mɔ̃kalm ɡozɔ̃]; 28 February 1712 – 14 September 1759) was a French soldier best known as the commander of the forces in North America during the Seven Years' War (whose North American theatre is also referred to as the French and Indian War).
Montcalm was born in Candiac near Nîmes in France to a noble family, and entered military service early in life. He saw service in the War of the Polish Succession and the War of the Austrian Succession, where his distinguished service led to promotion to brigadier general. In 1756, King Louis XV sent him to New France to lead its defence against the British in the Seven Years' War. Montcalm met with notable successes in 1756, 1757 and 1758, but British mobilisation of large numbers of troops against New France led to military setbacks in 1758 and 1759 (when, in January, he was promoted to lieutenant general), culminating in Montcalm's death at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.
Montcalm's service in New France was marked by conflict between himself and the Governor General of the colony, Pierre de Rigaud, marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnial. These men were the leaders of the war effort in New France during the Seven Years' War.
Montcalm has been much memorialized, especially in France, Quebec and parts of New York and Lower Michigan. Military historians have praised and criticized his decisions in defending Quebec.