Sieur Louis Coulon de Villiers (
17 August 1710 –
2 November 1757) was a
French Canadian military officer during the
French and Indian War (
Seven Years' War). Perhaps his greatest claim to fame is the fact that he is the only military opponent to force
George Washington to surrender.
Coulon was born into a prominent French Canadian family. He entered the military in 1733. He had risen to the rank of captain by the outbreak of the French and Indian War and was assigned to
Fort Duquesne.
His half-brother,
Ensign Joseph Coulon de Jumonville, was killed by the
Mingo leader
Half King after surrendering at the
Battle of Jumonville Glen. Coulon sought revenge and led an expedition to attack the British garrison at
Fort Necessity under the command of
George Washington.
On the morning of
July 3,
1754, Coulon's troops attacked Fort Necessity (See
Battle of the Great Meadows). By evening, the British had asked for terms of surrender. It was the only time in Washington's long military career when he surrendered to an enemy.
Coulon considered Washington personally responsible for his brother's death. He inserted a clause into the surrender document that described Jumonville's death as an "
assassination". Washington, who did not speak French, signed the document. This unwitting confession was later used as
propaganda against the British.
He died of small pox November 2, 1757 at
Quebec City.
Sources
- Attack on Grand Pre; The history of Canada, Volume 3. By William Kingsford, 1889