List of commandants of the Illinois Country facts for kids
The Illinois Country was a large area in North America. It was important during the time when France, Great Britain, and Spain ruled parts of the continent. For many years, this region was controlled by military leaders called commandants. They were like governors, but with military power.
French interest in the Illinois Country began in 1682. A French explorer named Robert de La Salle built Fort St. Louis du Roche on the Illinois River. The commandant of this fort was the main French official in the area. They reported to the Governor General of New France.
In 1718, the Illinois Country became part of Louisiana and was renamed Upper Louisiana. The new main government office was at Fort de Chartres. This fort was near growing French settlements like Cahokia, Kaskaskia, and Prairie du Rocher.
After the French and Indian War ended in 1763, the Louisiana territory was divided. Great Britain took the lands east of the Mississippi River. Spain claimed the lands west of the river. The new city of St. Louis (in today's Missouri) became the capital of Spanish Upper Louisiana.
On the British side (today's Illinois), military commandants still governed from Fort de Chartres. When that fort was left, the government moved to Kaskaskia. British rule in Illinois was not very organized. The Quebec Act of 1774 tried to set up a proper government. However, before it could start, Virginia soldiers captured Illinois in the Illinois Campaign.
After 1787, Illinois got a civilian government. It became part of the Northwest and Indiana Territories. Then, in 1809, it became its own Illinois Territory. The United States bought the rest of Upper Louisiana in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Military rule continued for a few months. Then, it changed to civilian government, first under the Indiana Territory, and then as the Louisiana Territory in 1805.
Contents
French Period (1678–1763)
This period covered the entire Mississippi River and Missouri River basin. It included the area north of the mouth of the Arkansas River.
Commandants Reporting to Canada
These commandants were in charge of the Illinois Country. They reported to officials in Canada.
- Robert de La Salle (1678–1683)
- Henri de Tonti (1682–1683) (temporary)
- Louis-Henri de Baugy, Chevalier de Baugy (1683–1685)
- Henri de Tonti (1685–1702)
- François Dauphin de la Forest (1700–1702)
- Pierre de Liette (1702–1718)
Commandants Reporting to Louisiana
After 1718, the Illinois Country was part of Louisiana. So, these commandants reported to officials in Louisiana.
- Pierre de Boisbriand (1718–1723)
- Claude Charles Du Tisné (1723–1725)
- Robert Groston de Saint-Ange (1730–1734)
- Pierre D'Artaguiette (1734–1736/7)
- Alphonse de La Buissonnière (1737–1740)
- Jean-Baptiste Benoit de Saint-Clair (1740–1742) (temporary)
- Claude de Bertet (1742–1749)
- Jean-Baptiste Benoit de Sainte-Claire (1749–1751) (temporary)
- Barthélemy de Macarty Mactigue (1751–1760)
- Pierre-Joseph Neyon de Villiers (1760–1764)
- Louis Groston de Saint-Ange de Bellerive (1764–1770)
East of the Mississippi River
British Period (1765–1778)
The Seven Years' War ended in 1763. The Treaty of Paris gave Great Britain the land east of the Mississippi River. This included the Illinois Country. British forces could not take control of the forts until 1765 because of Pontiac's War.
British Commandants at Fort de Chartres
These officers were in charge of the British forces at Fort de Chartres.
- Captain Sir Thomas Stirling, 5th Baronet (1765)
- Major Robert Farmer (1765–1766)
- Lieutenant-Colonel John Reed (1766–1768)
- Captain Forbes (acting) (1768)
- Lieutenant-Colonel John Wilkins (1768–1772)
British Commandants at Fort Gage (Kaskaskia)
After Fort de Chartres was abandoned, the British commandants moved to Fort Gage in Kaskaskia.
- Major Isaac Hamilton (acting) (1772)
- Captain Hugh Lord (1772–1774)
- Philippe-François de Rastel de Rocheblave (acting) (1774–1778)
Virginia Period (1778–1787)
Virginia soldiers, led by George Rogers Clark, captured Illinois in 1778. The area was named Illinois County, Virginia. It was under a temporary military government. This government ended in 1784 when Virginia gave the Illinois Country to the United States government. It became part of the Northwest Territory in 1787.
County Lieutenants and Civil Commandants of Illinois County
These individuals led the Illinois County during Virginia's rule.
- John Todd (1778–1780)
- Timothy Demonbreun (?–1784) (He stayed in command at Kaskaskia until 1786.)
West of the Mississippi River
Spanish Period (1765–1803)
In 1765, France gave Western Louisiana to Spain. The main city for Upper Louisiana became St. Louis. Even so, the governors of St. Louis were still called "commandants of Illinois". During this time, Upper Louisiana meant only the land west of the Mississippi River and north of the mouth of the Arkansas River.
Spanish Commandants of Upper Louisiana
- Don Francisco Rui (1767–1768)
- Don Pedro Piernas (1768– ?)
- Louis Saint-Ange de Bellerive (? –1770)
Spanish Lieutenant-Governors of Upper Louisiana
These leaders were in charge of Upper Louisiana for Spain.
- Pedro Piernas (1770 – 1775)
- Francisco Cruzat (1775 – 1778)
- Captain Fernando de Leyba (1778 – June 28, 1780)
- Francisco Cruzat (September 24, 1780 – 1787)
- Manuel Pérez (November 1787 – 1792)
- Zénon Trudeau (1792 – 1799)
- Carlos de Hault de Lassus (1799 – 1804)
French Republic (1803) and District of Louisiana Period (1804)
In 1803, France, led by Napoleon, bought Louisiana from Spain. This was the Louisiana Purchase. France never really took control of Upper Louisiana. In fact, in 1803, France sold the whole territory to the United States.
The transfer of power in St. Louis happened on a single day. It is known as Three Flags Day. On this day, control symbolically passed from Spain to France, and then to the United States. American military rule continued for a few months. On October 1, 1804, civilian government began under the Governor of Indiana Territory. Upper Louisiana was later reorganized as the Louisiana Territory in 1805 and the Missouri Territory in 1812.
Commandant of the District of Louisiana
- Amos Stoddard (1804)
See also
