Claude de Ramezay

Claude de Ramezay, (15 June 1659 – 31 July 1724), was an important figure in the early history of New France. He was a military man by training and rose to being commander of the colonial regular troops. Life Claude de Ramezay was a son of Timothé de Ramezay and Catherine Tribouillard, daughter of Hilaire Tribouillard, intendant in charge of the extensive stables of the Prince de Condé. He came to Canada in 1685 as a lieutenant in the colonial regular troops and was promoted to the rank of captain two years later. In 1690, Ramezay married the daughter of Pierre Denys de La Ronde (1631 - 1708) and thus was joined to one of the elite families of New France. He then bought the position of governor of Trois-Rivières from the widow of René Gaultier de Varennes and became governor there in 1691. In 1699, Ramezay left Trois-Rivières to become the commander of the Canadian troops. He served satisfactorily and was awarded the cross of Saint-Louis for his efforts. In 1704 he succeeded his rival Philippe de Rigaud de Vaudreuil as governor of Montreal. Ramezay was also the acting governor of New France from 1714 to 1716 while governor Philippe de Rigaud Vaudreuil was on leave in France.