PIOT DE LANGLOISERIE, CHARLES-GASPARD, soldier, town major and lieutenant at Montreal and at Quebec, knight of the order of Saint-Louis, son of Martin Piot de Langloiserie and Anne Petit; baptized c. 1655 at Hanion, bishopric of Chartres; buried at Quebec 21 Feb. 1715.

Piot de Langloiserie arrived in New France in 1691 as captain of a company of colonial regular troops on detachment. The following year, after the death of Jacques Bizard*, Buade* de Frontenac appointed him town major of Montreal with “the power to command in the absence of the governor, as the late Sieur Bizard had had.” A commission dated 15 April 1695 confirmed his appointment; at the same time, Louis XIV, informed “of the courage, experience and good conduct of the Sieur de Langloiserie,” named him commandant at Montreal in the absence of Callière and Rigaud de Vaudreuil. In 1697 Langloiserie obtained a fur-trading licence for one year, and the following year he went to France.

On 28 May 1699 the king signed the letters confirming the appointment of the Sieur de Langloiserie as town major of Quebec, replacing François de Galiffet*. Shortly afterwards “certain evil-intentioned people” accused him of “insolent behaviour in the service.” Piot de Langloiserie, “strongly protected by Monsieur de Callières” according to Vaudreuil, was immediately defended by the governor, who declared “that it is impossible for anyone to have served with more energy, zeal, and affection . . . and that his great scrupulousness must have drawn down upon him the ill-will of people who do not like to have their duty pointed out to them.” This high praise did not prevent the king from refusing Langloiserie’s subsequent requests, such as those he made for the lieutenancy of Trois-Rivières and a post as midshipman for his son; yet almost every letter from Callière contained requests on Langloiserie’s behalf. In 1700, for example, he put him forward as commandant at Chambly, but the post was not created until a few years later. At about the same period, he obtained for him the right to “be in command at Quebec and take precedence over the infantry captains.”

Finally, on 1 June 1703, he became king’s lieutenant at Quebec, in consideration “of the favourable testimony that you [Callière] have given of the good conduct of . . . M. de Langloiserie.” But this appointment did not satisfy Langloiserie, and he again solicited increases in salary, and privileges for his sons. He continued to be the target for severe criticism, for example that of having “tried to turn officers against him [Vaudreuil] here,” but the minister felt himself obliged to give him a favourable reference.

The crowning-point of Piot de Langloiserie’s career finally came on 24 June 1705, when he received the cross of the order of Saint-Louis. His requests nonetheless continued to pour into the mother country, together with marks of esteem and respect, which helped him to obtain in 1710 another increase in salary, and an ensign’s commission for his son.

In 1691 Piot de Langloiserie had married Marie-Thérèse Dugué de Boisbriand, daughter of Michel-Sidrac Dugué* de Boisbriand, seigneur of Mille-Îles. In 1706 Piot had bought from his brother-in-law Jean-Sidrac Dugué the fief of Île Sainte-Thérèse. On 5 March 1714 Vaudreuil granted to him, jointly with Jean Petit, the seigneury of Mille-Îles.

Piot de Langloiserie died on 21 Feb. 1715 at Quebec. Among his 11 children were Marie-Charlotte, who had a son by Pierre Ruette d’Auteuil de La Malotière; Louis, who seems to have made a career for himself in Louisiana; and Suzanne, who married Jean-Baptiste Céloron de Blainville.

Nive Voisine