Bibliography
Carman, W. Y. “The Burial of General Fraser, Saratoga,
1777.”Journal of the Society for Army Historical
Research48 (1970): 62–65; Fraser, Simon. “General
Fraser’s Account of Burgoyne’s Campaign on Lake
Champlain and the Battle of Hubbardton.” Vermont
Historical Society Proceedings, 1898 (1899):
139–147; Luzader, John F. Bemis Heights, September
12 to October 8, 1777.Denver: Historic Preservation
Team, National Park Service, 1973; Luzader, John F.
Documentary Study of the Death and Burial of Gen-
eral Simon Fraser.Stillwater, NY: Saratoga National
Historic Park, 1958; Reuter, Claus. The Battle of Hub-
bardton, July 7, 1777, Vermont, U.S.A.Scarborough,
Ontario: German-Canadian Museum of Applied His-
tory, 1995; Williams, John A. The Battle of Hubbard-
ton: The American Rebels Stem the Tide.Montpelier:
Vermont Division for Historic Presentation, 1988.FRONTENAC, COMTEDE, LOUISDEBUADE
Frontenac, Comte de, Louis de Buade
(May 22, 1622–November 28, 1698)
French Colonial Governor
F
rontenac was the legendary governor-
general of New France, a quarrelsome
individual who alienated all the author-
ities within that province with his imperious
ways. However, his defense of Quebec in
1690 was decisively effective, and he left New
France in far stronger shape than he inher-
ited it.
Louis de Buade was born in Saint Germain-
en-Lave on May 22, 1622, the scion of an aris-
tocratic family long distinguished by military
service to the Crown of France. His father
was then colonel of the Navarre Regiment, so
highly regarded by King Louis XIII that he
stood as young Louis’s godfather. After receiv-
ing an excellent education, Frontenac (a title
he inherited) joined the army and fought with
distinction throughout the internecine Thirty
Years’ War. He rose to colonel of the Nor-
mandie Regiment in 1643 and was roundly
praised as a brave and effective soldier. How-
ever, Frontenac also exhibited a capricious
streak. He tended to live extravagantly and
racked up numerous debts that could not be
repaid. A stormy marriage to Anne de la
Grange, the daughter of a wealthy judge, also
failed to produce the windfall anticipated
when her father disinherited her. Having art-
fully dodged his creditors for many years,
Frontenac then managed to wrangle a lieu-
tenant general’s commission in the Venetian
army. He was dispatched to the defense of
Crete against the Turks, but his quarrelsome
disposition resulted in a dismissal. By 1672,
Frontenac was literally penniless and, with
creditors closing in on all sides, managed to
obtain a new appointment as governor-gen-
eral of New France.
Frontenac, for all his military experience,
had no real background in administration or
personal diplomacy. He therefore no sooner
landed in 1672 than arguments began with
any or all who dared to oppose him. His less
than taciturn demeanor alienated the clergy,
the Sovereign Council, and his civilian coun-
terpart, the Intendant. Having been educated
as a young man by the strict Jesuit order, he
proved relentlessly belligerent toward them
as well. Furthermore, Frontenac wanted
more than his share of revenues from the lu-
crative fur trade, so he was instrumental in es-
tablishing Fort Frontenac (present-day
Kingston, Ontario) to reduce the dominance
of Montreal merchants. This move enraged
many of the economic elites, but whenever
they or anybody else protested, Frontenac
had them summarily arrested. Many others
were shipped back to France over protests.