A corrupt French politician who embezzled funds intended for the French colony in Quebec, leading to the British conquest of New France. He's infamous for his role in the fall of Quebec.
Franois Bigot, a French government official, is remembered for his tumultuous tenure as the Intendant of New France, a position he held until the British conquest of 1760. He is also infamous for his subsequent trial and conviction for corruption, which led to his imprisonment in the Bastille and lifelong banishment.
Bigot was born in 1703 in Bordeaux, France, into a noble family with a rich history of commercial and legal success. His father, Louis-Amable Bigot, was a Counsellor to the Parliament at Bordeaux and Receiver General to the King. Bigot received a good education, including legal studies, which would serve him well in his future career.
In 1723, at the age of 20, Bigot used his influence in the French Royal Court to join the commissary of the marine as a chief scrivener. Over the next decade, he rapidly rose through the ranks, becoming a commissary in 1728 and chief scrivener in 1729. In 1732, he was appointed resident commissary of the Navy in Rochefort, a strategic port city.
In 1746, Bigot was appointed commissary general of the ill-fated Duc d'Anville expedition, a naval expedition sent to capture British-held territories in North America. Although the expedition was unsuccessful, Bigot's experience and connections paved the way for his future appointment as Intendant of New France.
In 1748, Bigot was appointed Intendant of New France, the highest administrative position in the colony. He was responsible for overseeing the province's finances, justice, and commerce. Bigot's tenure was marked by controversy, with allegations of corruption, embezzlement, and abuse of power.
In 1761, following the British conquest of New France, Bigot was accused of corruption and put on trial in France. He was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment in the Bastille for 11 months, followed by lifelong banishment. However, Bigot escaped to Switzerland, where he lived until his death in 1778.
Bigot's legacy is marked by controversy and scandal, but he also played a significant role in shaping the history of New France. His experience and influence helped to establish the province's administrative structure, and his legacy continues to be studied by historians today.
Although few quotes from Bigot are recorded, his legacy speaks to the complexities of colonial administration and the challenges of balancing power and responsibility.
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