Louis-Joseph de Montcalm

Lieutenant-General Louis-Joseph de Montcalm-Gozon, Marquis de Montcalm de Saint-Veran (French pronunciation: [lwi ʒozɛf də mɔ̃kalm ɡozɔ̃]; 28 February 1712 – 14 September 1759) was a French Royal Army officer best known for his unsuccessful defence of New France during the French and Indian War.

Montcalm was born in Vestric-et-Candiac near Nîmes to an aristocratic family, and joined the French army at a young age. He served in the War of the Polish Succession and the War of the Austrian Succession, where his service resulted in a promotion to brigadier general. In 1756, King Louis XV sent him to New France to lead its defence against the British in the Seven Years' War. Montcalm met with notable successes in 1756, 1757 and 1758, but British mobilisation of large numbers of troops against New France led to military setbacks in 1758 and 1759 (when, in January, he was promoted to lieutenant general), culminating in Montcalm's death at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.

Montcalm's service in New France was marked by conflict between himself and the Governor General of the colony, Pierre de Rigaud, marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnial. These men were the leaders of the war effort in New France during the Seven Years' War. Montcalm has been much memorialized, especially in France, Quebec and parts of New York and Lower Michigan. Military historians have praised and criticized his decisions in defending Quebec.