Rastel, Philippe François, Sieur de Rocheblave

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Rastel, Philippe François, Sieur de Rocheblave

RASTEL, PHILIPPE FRANÇOIS, SIEUR DE ROCHEBLAVE. (c.1735–1802). A French soldier who came to Quebec during the Seven Years' War, serving primarily in the Ohio region, including at Kaskaskia. After the war he transferred his allegiance to the Spanish, commanding the troops in the Illinois country. In 1773 he fell out with the Spanish governor and became commandant of Kaskaskia for the British. He was captured there at Fort Gage by George Rogers Clark on the evening of 4 July 1778. Sent to prison in Virginia, he was paroled and returned to New York City about a year later. After the war he settled in Montreal, serving as a member of the assembly from 1792 until his death in 1802.

SEE ALSO Western Operations.

                     revised by Michael Bellesiles