Haute-Ville in Québec in Communauté-Urbaine-de-Québec, — Central Canada (French-Canadian)

Louis-Joseph de Montcalm

1712-1759

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 28, 2014

1. Louis-Joseph de Montcalm Marker

Inscription. French:
À la suite de blessures reçues lors de la bataille des plaines d’Abraham, Louis-Joseph de Montcalm, marquis de Montcalm, lieutenant général des armées française en Nouvelle-France, décède à l’aube du 14 septembre 1759 dans la maison du chirurgien André Arnoux jadis construite sur ce site.

Né en 1712 au château de Candiac, près de Nîmes, dans le sud de la France, Montcalm débute sa carrière militaire à l’âge de 20 ans. Nomme maréchal de camp en 1756, il arrive à Québec le 13 mai de la même année pour servir sous le commandement du gouverneur général Pierre Rigaud de Vaudreuil. Promu au grade de lieutenant général en octobre 1758, il se voit confier le commandement de toutes les forces militaires en Nouvelle-France. Le 13 septembre 1759, il affronte avec une partie de ses troupes le major général James Wolfe à la tête de l’armée anglaise sur les plaines d’Abraham. James Wolfe meurt le jour même, Louis-Joseph de Montcalm, le lendemain.

English translation:
As a result of wounds received at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, Louis-Joseph de Montcalm, Marquis de Montcalm, the French army lieutenant general in New France, died at dawn on September 14, 1759 in the house of the surgeon André Arnoux once built on this site.

Born in 1712 in the Chateau of Candiac, near Nimes in southern

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France, Montcalm began his military career at the age of 20 years. Named Field Marshall in 1756 he arrived in Quebec on May 13 of that year to serve under the command of Governor General Pierre Rigaud de Vaudreuil. Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in October 1758 he was given command of all military forces in New France. September 13, 1759, with some of his troops,he confronted Major-General James Wolfe at the head of the British army on the Plains of Abraham. James Wolfe died on the same day, Louis-Joseph de Montcalm, the next day.

Erected 1999 by Ville de Québec & Gouvernement du Québec, Ministère de la Culture et des Communications.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, French and Indian. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1648.

Location. 46° 48.677′ N, 71° 12.484′ W. Marker is in Québec, in Communauté-Urbaine-de-Québec. It is in Haute-Ville. Marker is on Rue Saint Louis close to Rue du Corps de Garde, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 47 Rue Saint Louis, Québec G1R 3Z2, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Joseph Bouchette (within shouting distance of this marker); The Jacquet House (within shouting distance of this marker); Le Monastère des Ursulines/ The Ursuline Monastery (within shouting

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 28, 2014

2. Louis-Joseph de Montcalm Marker

distance of this marker); Stone Wind Mill (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Ulric-Joseph Tessier (about 90 meters away); General Richard Montgomery (about 90 meters away); Kent House (about 90 meters away); The Maillou House (about 120 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Québec.

Also see . . . Biography of Marquis Louis-Joseph de Montcalm - Military Heritage. He was a brave officer, of this there can be no doubt, but serious defects in his character made him unfit to command an army. His intrigues to undermine the authority of his superior, the governor general, his open and at times slanderous criticism of Vaudreuil and the Canadians, his refusal to admit that tactics other than those employed in Europe had any merit, his chronic defeatism, all caused trouble and undermined the morale of the forces. Yet he had won some notable victories. But in his final campaign, when he was presented with an opportunity to destroy Wolfe’s army, or at least avoid his own defeat, he threw it away and suffered one of the most disastrous defeats in history. (Submitted on March 6, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Louis-Joseph de Montcalm image. Click for full size.

3. Louis-Joseph de Montcalm

The Death of Montcalm image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Marc Aurèle de Foy Suzor-Coté, circa 1902

4. The Death of Montcalm

Credits. This page was last revised on February 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 6, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 526 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 6, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.