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Louis Joseph was the son of Louis-Daniel de Montcalm and Marie-Thérèse de Lauris and was born at their Chateau de Candiac in southern France. He became an ensign in the French army at the age of 15. On the death of his father in 1735, he became the Marquis de Montcalm, inheriting the honors, rights, and debts of that position. But his finances were improved soon after by his marriage to Angelique Louise Talon du Boulay . Despite a marriage arranged for money and influence, they were a devoted couple. They made their home at Candiac and had 10 children over the years.

Military career

His father purchased a captaincy for him in 1729 and he served in the War of Polish Succession and the War of Austrian Succession, reaching the rank of Colonel of the Auxerrois Regiment in 1743. He was wounded and captured during an Italian campaign of 1745Events May 11 War of Austrian Succession: Battle of Fontenoy At Fontenoy, French forces defeat an Anglo-Dutch-Hanoverian army including the Black Watch June 4 Frederick the Great destroys Austrian army at Hohenfriedberg August 19 Beginning of the '45 Jaco. He was released on parole after several months imprisonment, and promoted to BrigadierBrigadier is a rank in the British military and the Australian Army ranking above Colonel and immediately below Major General. It was introduced in 1928 to replace the rank of Colonel Commandant that had briefly replaced the rank of Brigadier General in 1 for his actions during the campaign.

Montcalm was sent to QuebecQuebec ( In Detail) ( In Detail) National Motto: Je me souviens (I remember CapitalLargest city Quebec City Montreal Area Total % fresh water 2nd largest(1st lgst prov. 1 542 056 km² 11,5% Population Total (2004) Density Ranked 2nd 7 509 928 5,43/km² Admi in 1756Events March 17 St. Patrick's Day is celebrated in New York City for the first time (at the Crown and Thistle Tavern). May 15 Seven Years' War: The war begins when England declares war on France. August 29 Frederick the Great attacks Saxony October 1 Seve as the commander of French troops in North America during the French and Indian War. His early campaigns against the British were major successes. He expanded the defenses at Fort TiconderogaFort Ticonderoga is a large 18th century fort built at a strategically important narrows in Lake Champlain where a short traverse gives access to the north end of Lake George in the state of New York, USA. The fort controlled both commonly used trade rout on Lake ChamplainLake Champlain lies mostly in the United States, forming the country's sixth-largest body of water. It is situated between the Green Mountains of Vermont and the Adirondacks in New York, with its northern tip extending into Quebec, Canada. It is naturally. He captured and destroyed Fort OswegoFort Oswego was an important frontier post for British traders in the 18th century. A trading post was established in 1722 with a log palisade, and New York's governor Burnet ordered a fort built at the site in 1727. The fort was a log palisade and establ on Lake Ontario in 1756. His victory at Fort William HenryThe British Fort William Henry on the shores of Lake George, New York, was built during the French and Indian War ( 1754- 1763) as a staging ground for attacks against the French Fort Carillon ( Fort Ticonderoga). It was part of a chain of British and Fre in 1757 was a military and personal victory, but the conduct of his Indian allies made this a political loss. Regardless, he led the French forces to victory against all odds at the Battle of Ticonderoga (1758), facing and defeating an English army an amazing four times his size. Later actions at Quebec were less successful and his army was defeated on the Plains of Abraham (near Quebec City) by the British under James Wolfe, and Montcalm died the day after the battle.

See French colonization of the Americas.