Philippe-François de Rastel de Rocheblave

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Illustration of Rocheblave's capture at Kaskaskia. He was in bed with his wife when Americans led by George Rogers Clark seized the lightly guarded British outpost.

Philippe-François de Rastel de Rocheblave (March 23, 1727 – April 3, 1802) was a soldier, businessman and political figure in Lower Canada. He was sometimes referred to as the Chevalier de Rocheblave.

He was born in Savournon in the Hautes-Alpes region of France in 1727 and served in the French Army. He led French troops in New France during the Seven Years' War, serving as lieutenant at Fort de Chartres in the Illinois Country. He later established a business at Kaskaskia. After the British took control of Kaskaskia, he became commander of Fort Sainte-Geneviève for the Spanish. Around 1774, he took command of Kaskaskia for the British.

In 1778, during the American Revolutionary War, George Rogers Clark, commander of the Kentucky militia, captured Kaskaskia for the Americans and took Rocheblave prisoner. Rocheblave was sent to Virginia, where he eluded parole and fled to the British forces in New York City.

After the end of the American Revolutionary War, Rocheblave brought his family to Montreal; they later settled at Varennes around 1789. He became involved in the fur trade in the Detroit region. In 1796, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada for Surrey; he was re-elected in 1796 and 1800, serving until his death at Quebec City in 1802.

His sons, Noël and Pierre, also became members of the legislative assembly and Pierre was also a member of the legislative council.