Jean Baptiste LeMoyne, The Sieur de Bienville 1680-1767
French Governor of Louisiana (1701-1713) (1718-1724) (1733-1743)
Jean Baptiste LeMoyne, the son of Charles and Catherine Primot LeMoyne and
the younger brother of Pierre LeMoyne, Sieur d'IbervilleThe Sieur de Bienville was born in Quebec, Canada on February 23, 1680 .
His father Charles LeMoyne, Sieur de Longueville was a Minor French
nobleman and an early pioneer of Canada. His brother Pierre Sieur
d'Iberville was 19 years his senior. There were a total of fourteen
children who grew up on the frontier among the Huron Indians. All of
the boys held important positions in the French military.
Bienville Joined the French navy at an early age and was wounded in
battle with the English along the New England coast during King Williams
War.
In January of 1699 Bienville accompanied his brother d'Iberville who was
appointed to explore new territory in Louisiana. d'Iberville returned to
France in May 1699 leaving Bienville second in command to Sauvolle at
their newly established colony at Biloxi and Ft. Maurepas. Biloxi
becomes the capitol of Louisiana until 1722 when Bienville moved the
capitol and his residence to New Orleans.
In 1700 Bienville and d'Iberville established Fort De La Boulay in
present-day Plaquemines Parish of Louisiana and Bienville is placed in
command. At the age of 21 Bienville is appointed the governor of
Louisiana in 1701.
In 1702 Bienville established another settlement at Mobile and a fort at
the mouth of the Dog River in Mobile Bay where he left Nicolas de
LaSalle to serve as intendant. From Mobile he made excursions up the
Alabama and Tombigbee Rivers against the Chickasaw, Choctaw and Alibamo
Indians. He is also credited with the founding of New Orleans, Bay St.
Louis, Baton Rouge, and Natchez.
Jealous enemies in France constantly undermined Beinville‘s good name
and reputation. He and his brothers Serigny, Chateaugue, and d'Iberville
were accused of profiting by fraud and were under investigation by the
French Crown until 1735. On one occasion during this period of suspicion
he was imprisoned in France. His Brother, d'Iberville died of yellow
fever at Havana, July 9, 1706.
In 1743 Bienville was replaced by the Marquis de Vaudreuil and left
Louisiana. In 1763 He was broken hearted when against his pleas the
French government cedes its claim of Louisiana to Spain
On March 7, 1767 Jean Baptiste LeMoyne, The Sieur de Bienville died in
Paris and was buried with full military honors in the cemetery of
Montmartre.
After being wounded in the service of France at the age of 19 he devoted
a lifetime of service to France and 4 successful decades of service in
Louisiana. He is still loved and respected by the colonies and native
tribes of the gulf coast but received nothing less than suspicion and
censure from the French Aristocracy.
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