Joseph-Antoine de La Barre

Joseph-Antoine le Fèbvre de LaBarre (1622–1688) was the Governor of New France from 1682 to 1685. He had previously been Governor of Auvergne and of the French Antilles (1666 and 1667, then temporarily until 1669)[1].

He was originally an administrator, who then became an officer in the French Navy.[2]

Having replaced the frustrated Comte de Frontenac, LaBarre set out to permanently establish the fur trade in the west (in and around Kingston, Ontario). In 1683 he, along with a few hundred soldiers (Troupes de la marine), made camp at the future site of Oswego, New York to wait for the Iroquois to attack. After a while, over a hundred of LaBarre's men fell ill and supplies ran out. LaBarre and his men elected to return to Montreal and abandon the west. They left Oswego and Fort Frontenac (Kingston) to the Iroquois. As punishment, the French government handed LaBarre's governorship to Jacques-René de Brisay, Marquis de Denonville, a tough, pious cavalry officer.

In 1687 de la Barre was again Governor of Cayenne and died three years later.[3]

Jean-François de la Barre, known as the Chevalier de La Barre, was his descendant.

References

  1. ^ R. La Roque de Roquebrune, « LE FEBVRE DE LA BARRE, JOSEPH-ANTOINE », du Dictionnaire biographique du Canada en ligne, 2000, consulté le 15 février, 2010 (French)
  2. ^ Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
  3. ^ Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02308b.htm. 
Government offices
Preceded by
Le comte de Frontenac
Governor General of New France
1682 – 1685
Succeeded by
Le marquis de Denonville