passion for mathematics.
Declining his parents’
wishes to enter politics,
he expressed interest in
military service and joined
the elite Mousquetaires
Noirs in 1750. Bougain-
ville proved himself a
dedicated young officer
and within three years se-
cured a transfer to the Pi-
cardy Regiment as adju-
tant. He nonetheless
maintained his avid inter-
est in math and in 1754
published a two-volume
set on integral calculus.
This achievement was
roundly hailed by the
prestigious Royal Society
of London, which voted
him a member. Bougain-
ville’s reputation also
brought him to the attention of General
Chavert, who made him aide-de-camp. Fluent
in English and highly refined, Bougainville
next ventured to England as secretary to the
French ambassador in 1756. That same year
he also rose to captain and was selected for
service in Canada as aide-de-camp to Gen.
Louis-Joseph de Montcalm.
North America was then gripped by the
onset of the French and Indian War, the final
showdown between England and France for
control of the New World. Bougainville
quickly established himself as one of Mont-
calm’s favorite officers, and that August he
distinguished himself in fighting around Os-
wego, New York. Capture of this fort subse-
quently gave the French control of Lake On-
tario and the strategic initiative along the
northern frontier. The following month
Bougainville was actively employed in recon-
noitering British positions in the Lake Cham-
plain region, and he also partook in opera-
tions resulting in Montcalm’s capture of Fort
William Henry in August 1757. On July 8, 1758,
Bougainville was closely engaged in Gen.
James Abercromby’s dis-
astrous repulse at Fort
Carillon (Ticonderoga)
and was wounded. De-
spite these impressive
victories, even Montcalm’s
spirited generalship could
not turn the strategic tide
of battle, which inex-
orably turned in favor of
England. Therefore, he
ordered Bougainville to
France in the fall of 1758,
with orders to explain the
grave situation facing
New France if men and
materiel were not dis-
patched immediately. He
was politely received, but
because France was then
heavily committed to mil-
itary operations against
Prussia, the requested
supplies could not be spared. Dejected,
Bougainville returned the following spring to
Quebec with 20 supply vessels. On board
were all the reinforcements that the French
government was willing to send, a mere 300
men. As compensation, Bougainville had also
been promoted to colonel and awarded the
prestigious Order of St. Louis.
By the time of Bougainville’s return, the
war in Canada had reached its climax. Que-
bec was about to be besieged by a British
army and fleet in the St. Lawrence River
under Gen. James Wolfe. To forestall this de-
velopment, Bougainville was entrusted with
1,200 grenadiers and handpicked Canadian
militia, the elite of Montcalm’s army, with or-
ders to prevent the English from landing up-
stream from the city. Throughout August, he
managed to repulse four landing attempts.
However, on September 13, 1759, Wolfe de-
tected an area carelessly guarded by another
officer and successfully gained a foothold.
The crisis for New France had arrived, and
Montcalm mustered his forces to meet the
enemy on the Plains of Abraham. However, heDEBOUGAINVILLE, LOUIS-ANTOINE
Louis-Antoine de Bougainville
National Archives of Canada