Vincent de Rochemore

Vincent Gaspard Pierre de Rochemore was a French nobleman and official in French Louisiana, chiefly known for his bitter conflict with the Chevalier de Kerlerec, who was the colonial governor. Vincent was the fifth son of Henri de Rochemore (d. 1739), Chevalier de St. Louis and seigneur de la Deveze, and his wife Marie-Blanche de Ricard. He married Marie-Madeleine de Gaston in 1748 at Rochefort, and had two sons, Francois (b. 1751) and Louis (b. 1755). He arrived in Louisiana in 1758 to serve as the Commissary-General of the Marine and Ordonnateur of Louisiana. In this position, Rochemore was responsible for the administration of justice in the colony, as well as the regulation of commerce, finances, and policing. He came into almost instant conflict with Kerlerec, particularly when Rochemore refused payment to the Swiss mercenaries serving in the colony, who Kerlerec believed maintained much-needed discipline. The two accused each other of corruption, and the governor at one point had Rochemore's secretary dragged from his bed at three in the morning by a detachment of soldiers, to be removed from the colony by ship. Kerlerec had Rochemore recalled to France to answer charges, along with two of the governor's other political enemies, Antoine Philippe de Marigny and Royal Treasurer Jean Baptiste d'Estrehan. Rochemore used his influence in France to discredit Kerlerec, who in turn was removed from his position as governor and recalled to France. Rochemore died in France in 1763, survived by his widow and two sons. His younger son, Louis, died in battle in 1778 while commanding one of the ships in the fleet of Admiral de Suffren. The older son, François, was a French military officer who was imprisoned during the French Revolution and later executed on charges of conspiracy during his imprisonment.