Louis-Joseph de Montcalm-Gozon, Marquis de Saint-Veran (February 28, 1712 [O.S. February 17, 1712] – September 14, 1759) is a French soldier best known as the commander of the forces in North America during the Seven Years' War (whose North American theater is called the French and Indian War in the United States).
Montcalm, born near Nîmes in France to a noble family, had entered military service early in life.
He sees service in the War of the Polish Succession and the War of the Austrian Succession, where his distinguished service leads to promotion to brigadier general.
King Louis XV sends him to New France in 1756 to lead its defense against the British in the Seven Years' War.
Montcalm meets with notable successes in 1756, 1757 and 1758, but British mobilization of large numbers of troops against New France leads to military setbacks in 1758 and 1759 (when, in January, he is promoted to lieutenant general), culminating in Montcalm's death at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.
Montcalm's service in New France is marked by conflict between himself and the Governor General of the colony, Pierre de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnial.
These men are the leaders of the war effort in New France during the Seven Years' War.
Montcalm is a controversial figure among military historians, some of whom have strongly criticized his decisions at Quebec, but he has also been much memorialized, especially in France, Quebec and parts of New York.
