Louis Nicolas de Clerville

Louis Nicolas de Clerville (1610 – 15 or 16 October 1677), often referred to as the Chevalier de Clerville, held many military positions during his life in France. In the 1660s, he was the chief engineer for ports and canals under Louis XIV's minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert and was responsible for surveying the coasts of France and the creation of numerous maps. He was also associated with Pierre-Paul Riquet and the building of the Canal du Midi.

Clerville played an important role in François de Vendôme, Duc de Beaufort's 1664 expedition against Algiers and attempt to establish a French stronghold at Djidjelli (or Gigeri, present-day Jijel).

During his association with the canal, Clerville worked for Jean-Baptiste Colbert, minister of finance under Louis XIV. He served as Colbert's commissaire general des fortifications building ports, dry docks and fortresses.