TARRIDE DUHAGET (Du Haget), ROBERT, officer in the colonial regular troops; b. 1702 or 1703 in Estang (dept. of Gers), France, son of Charles Tarride Duhaget and Antoinette de Saint-Thairau (Saint-Turine, Saint-Chéran); m. 29 Sept. 1737 at Louisbourg, Île Royale (Cape Breton Island), Marguerite, sister of Gabriel Rousseau* de Villejouin; d. 19 Dec. 1757 at Brest, France.

Robert Tarride Duhaget probably began his military service in Rochefort, France, perhaps in 1715. By 1723 he was in Île Royale where he was made second ensign on 9 May. Promoted ensign five years later, he was soon posted to Île Saint-Jean (Prince Edward Island). In 1729 he assumed virtual control of the garrison there when its commander, Jacques d’Espiet* de Pensens, was forced by ill health to remain in Louisbourg. On 1 May 1730 Duhaget became a lieutenant.

From 1731 he served at Louisbourg, then returned to Île Saint-Jean in 1736 as interim commander, a post he held until Louis Du Pont* Duchambon was made permanent commander in 1737. On 1 April 1738 he became assistant garrison adjutant, with a captain’s commission, at Louisbourg; exactly a year later he was promoted full captain, with his own company. He led his company in defence of the Queen’s bastion during the siege of Louisbourg by New England troops under William Pepperrell in 1745. After the fall of the fortress he was sent to France with the rest of the Île Royale garrison. Early in 1748 he was admitted to the order of Saint-Louis.

The rebuilding of Île Royale’s defences became a principal policy consideration when, by the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, the island was restored to France in 1748. Duhaget was first assigned to recruiting duties at Brest and Bordeaux, but in 1749 he returned to Île Royale as commander of Port-Toulouse (St Peters). This was, in June 1750, the scene of a mutiny brought on by an altercation between a corporal and the garrison cook about poor food. Wounded during the mutiny, Duhaget was obliged to return to France for treatment.

He had not entirely recovered when in 1751 he returned to Île Royale with the new governor, Jean-Louis de Raymond*. At first impressed by Duhaget, by the fall of 1752 Raymond recommended that he be retired. This recommendation was, however, rejected by Rouillé, the minister of Marine. On 11 July 1753 Duhaget was made major of Louisbourg. Although an object of contempt and ridicule for his fellow officers, he held the post until the autumn of 1757 when, in declining health, he returned to France “to take the waters.” He died soon afterwards.

Andrew Rodger