Bigot Francois
Born at Bordeaux, Jan. 30, 1703; son of Louis-Amable
Bigot. Through his influence at court, obtained several lucrative
offices in New France, which he turned to his own personal advantage.
Arrived at Louisbourg in 1739. After the capture of Louisbourg in 1745,
returned to France, where serious charges of misappropriating public
funds had been brought against him, but his influence at court was still
powerful enough to
xtricate him from this scrape, and to secure him the
office of intendant of New France, 1748. Sailed for Quebec and arrived
the same year. There elaborated a system of peculation, by which every
branch of the public service was laid under tribute to enrich himself
and his creatures, helping thereby to bring about the final loss of the
colony. Returned to France after the conquest of Canada; thrown into the
Bastille, and released only to be banished from France. =Index=: (Wolfe / Montcalm era)
Intendant, appearance and character, 32; made profit of famine, 53;
gambling habits, 54; reprimanded by minister, 88; hostility to
Bougainville, 88; makes his headquarters at Beauport, 88; letter to
Bougainville, 165. (Sir Frederick Haldimand era) Disliked, 52. =Bib.=: Roy, Intendants de la
Nouvelle-France (R. S. C., 1903); Parkman, Montcalm and Wolfe.