In René Amable Boucher Park

Commemoration

Boucher was born at Fort Frontenac (Kingston) where his father, an officer with the French colonial regular troops, was stationed.  Réné-Amable also chose a military career and served in the Seven Years War with the French defenders of Canada.  During the American Revolution, he was captain of a volunteer company of French Canadian militia and fought with the British under General John Burgoyne.  In Quebec, and later in Lower Canada, Boucher sat on the legislative council, he also served as a magistrate of the Mecklenberg (later Midland) District of Upper Canada.  From 1782 until his death he devoted much time and energy to managing and developing his seigneury of  Boucherville, a community of more than 2000 inhabitants located near Montreal.

Background

In 1754, Boucher, as part of a party of French troops in the area of Fort Duquesne (modern Pittsburgh) was attacked by Virginia troops led by George Washington.  Boucher was taken prisoner.  Washington later surrendered at Fort Necessity.  The incident was a factor in the declaration of what became the Seven Years War (French and Indian War in the U.S.).  As part of the surrender agreement, Boucher was freed and returned to New France.

He later fought in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham and was wounded and captured by the British.  He was returned to France as part of a prisoner exchange.  He then made his way back to his home which was now part of British North America.  He served the British crown as an officer, participating int he defence of Quebec from Benedict Arnold’s invasion force and also served under General John Burgoyne.