Biographie Boucher Charles-Louis
Carlos de Grand Pre, was a Louisiana creole and seved in the Spanish military in Louisiana after 1763. He held several posts in Poite Coupee, Natchez, Avoyelles, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
You may already know of the story reguarding Carlos and his son Luis and their plight in a changing Louisiana post-1803. Carlos was ordered to Cuba to face the audiencia of Havana regarding the Spanish decline in West Florida, and his flirtation with the French, Carlos died of broken heart in Havana awaiting the opportunity to clear himself of the pro-French leanings in 1809.
He studied law in France where he was sent as a young man and returned after his father's death in abt. 1767. He rose through the ranks in the Spanish military of Louisiana, which being of French descent was not an easy thing to do. He was promoted to the rank of captain on July 15, 1775. During the Revolutionary war he served as commandant of Pointe Coupee Post, and colonel of the local militia. His 80 militiamen combined with the forces under St. Maxent serve under Galvez during the battle of Baton Rouge capturing Ft. New Richmond. In July 1781 he was transfered to the post of Natchez where he captured conspirators in the Natchez rebellion. In 1784 he was brevetted to the rank of a lt. col. and married Helene Price Paget of Kaskaskia, New France, Illinois Terr. They were wed on April 1, 1784 at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans. He resided in Natchez being instrumental in founding the present town until 1799 when the Spanish retired from the district after the cession to the U.S. He served for times during the 1790's at posts in Avoyelles and Natchitoches. In 1799 he was appointed Gov. of West Florida and commandant of the post at Baton Rouge. In 1804 he thwarts a second rebellion from the actions of the Kemper Brothers of the Mississipi Terr. threatening Grand-Pre and Spanish rule in West Florida. In 1802 Carlos issued a proclamation against trade between spanish subjects of West Florida and those of the surrounding U.S. lands. His fair deailings at Baton Rouge won him great admiration from the local citizens (Frenc, Spanish, and Anglo-americans) of the district. After he was summoned to meet with the Spanish audiencia of Cuba, local citizens petitioned to the Spanish government for him to remain until an interim official could adapt to the residents. His liberal policies toward the Anglo-Americans in the district and enterteinment of one of Napoleon's generals were the primery reasons for his call to Havana around Nov. 1808. He died in Havana during the summer of 1809, and is probably buried there. Col. DeLassus resumed command of the post of West Florida, and his policies added with the actions of his adjudant, Crocker, brought upon the state of affairs ending in the rebellion of Anglo-American settlers, and death of Grand-Pre's oldest son, Luis Antonio, in 1810. This resulted in the creation of the Republic of West Florida.
Anonyme, GEDCOM
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