Marie-Galante is an island in the Leeward Islands. From 1648 to 1749 Marie-Galante was administered by a French governor or royal lieutenant, who often reported to the governor of nearby Guadeloupe, or by the governor of Guadeloupe directly.
Origins
The island was discovered by Christopher Columbus on 3 November 1493, and claimed for Spain with the name Santa Maria la Galante. On 8 November 1648 France incorporated the island into the Guadeloupe administration. Jacques de Boisseret leased the island from the king of France from 4 September 1649 to 1643. His widow abandoned her claim in 1660.
Administrators
The administrators of Marie-Galante were:
Period Administrator Notes 4 September 1649 – 1653 Jacques de Boisseret (died 1653) 1653–55 Madeleine Houël de Boisseret (1613–1655) 1670–77 Jacques de Boisseret de Thémericourt (died 1677) 1679–86 Charles François d'Angennes, Marquis de Maintenon (1648–1691) 1 January 1686 – 1695 Charles Auger 1692–95 (vacant) Marie-Galante was abandoned in 1692 due to English raids. 1695–96 M. de Laurière (died 1696) 1 September 1696 – 8 November 1702 Bonnaventure-François de Boisfermé Governor 1703–06 (vacant) Taken by the English 1 August 1714 – 1 December 1722 Bonnaventure-François de Boisfermé 2nd time; Commander 23 August 1714 – 1723 Charles de Brunier, Marquis de Larnage (1687–1746) Royal lieutenant June 1723 – 1724 Ravary (died 1724) Royal lieutenant 1724–25 Robert Philippe de Longvilliers de Poincy (c. 1671 –1761) 1st time; acting 1725–26 La Chassagne Acting March 1726 – 1729 Pierre Le Bègue (died 1729) 1729–48 Robert Philippe de Longvilliers de Poincy 2nd time 1748? – 1752? Joseph de Jarrier de La Chassaigne Royal Lieutenant; 1st time 15 February 1752 – 1759 Nicolas Baptiste des Merliers de Longueville (1688–1761) 1759 – 26 May 1759 Joseph de Jarrier de La Chassaigne 2nd time; acting 1759–63 Francis Maclean (c. 1717? –1781) 1763–76 Marc Étienne de Joubert (1716–1784) Local governor1777 – August 1779 Pierre-Joseph de Neyon de Villiers (1718–1780) Local governor1779 – 27 June 1785 Auguste Lescuiller Descoudrelles (died 1785) Local governor1785? – 1790 Jean Étienne de Ségur d'Aguesseau (1731–1789) Local governor1790 – 1 Nov 1792 Emmanuel-Joseph Desnoyers (1733–c.1798) Local governor 1 November 1792 – 20 April 1794 Deshayes (or Deshaies) &Dominique Murat (1742–1819) Presidents of the Commission (Comité des Douze or République des Douze)
The island was occupied by the British in 1794, and after this no longer had an independent administrator
See also List of colonial and departmental heads of Guadeloupe List of governors general of the French Antilles
Notes
Sources