Jacques Martin de Bourgon

Jacques Martin de Bourgon (7 June 1742 – 1820 or after) was a French soldier, Governor of Dominique and Governor of Guiana.

Early life Jacques Martin de Bourgon was born on the 7 June 1742 at the Château de Bourgon, in Angoumois, France.

Career

Military service On 3 September 1750, he enrolled as an ensign in the Bourgogne Regiment. He became lieutenant on 27 April 1754, and captain on 11 August 1758. In Corsica, he commanded a company of volunteers, served in two campaigns and was wounded by a gunshot in the face.

Bourgon became embroiled in a conflict with the Colonial Assembly, which progressively appropriated the State's power for its newly created municipality of Cayenne. He initially had the support of the battalion stationed at Cayenne, but lost it after the soldiers fraternized with the citizen guard in late November while quelling a slave revolt.

Bourgon, who had already asked to be recalled (for health reasons) left Guyana permanently in early January. He left the commander of the battalion, de Benoît, in charge.

Legacy He returned in France by leave on 9 June 1791. He was not threatened by the Reign of terror, despite slander by the representant of Guiana to the Convention, Pomme. He retired as maréchal-de-camp on 10 August 1792. In 1820, he was president of the paternal committee of the knights of Saint-Louis, at Angoulème, where he lived.