Charles-François de Machault de Belmont

Charles-François de Machault de Belmont
Governor general of the French Antilles
In office 4 March 1703 – 1709
Preceded by	Nicolas de Gabaret (interim)
Succeeded by	Nicolas de Gabaret (interim) Raymond Balthazar Phélypeaux
Personal details
Born	1640
Died	1709
Nationality	French
Occupation	Naval officer

Charles-François de Machault de Belmont (1640–1709) was a French naval officer who was governor general of the French Antilles from 1703 to 1709. He held office during the War of the Spanish Succession, when the French colony on Saint Kitts was lost to the English and the other islands were under constant threat.

Family

Charles de Machault, chevalier, seigneur de Belmont, was the son of François de Machault (1601–78), seigneur de La Motte-Romaincourt, Almoner of the Duke of Orléans, Treasurer of France in Picardy. His mother was Geneviève Sauzion, daughter of Jean de Sauzion, the king's secretary. His older brother was Claude de Machault (died 1678), seigneur de Garges et Romaincourt.

Naval career

Machaut became a ship-of-the-line captain in the French royal navy and a knight of the Order of Saint Louis. He was appointed lieutenant de vaisseau in 1667. In 1671 he was promoted to capitaine de frégate and in 1673 to capitaine de vaisseau. From 1676 to 1677 he was in command of Le Laurier (40). On 3 March 1677 he fought under Admiral Jean II d'Estrées in the First Battle of Tobago. In 1683 he was in command of Le Fendant (54). In 1689 he was in command of Le Vermandois (60). On 1 April 1689 he fought in the Battle of Bantry Bay. In 1690 he was in command of Le Parfait (64). He fought in the Battle of Beachy Head on 30 June 1690.

Governor general of the Antilles

Charles Desnotz, governor general of the French Antilles, died on 6 October 1701, and Charles de Pechpeyrou-Comminges de Guitaut became interim governor general. Marc Hyacinthe de Rosmadec was named on 4 January 1702 to succeed Denotz, but died in Havana before taking office. Machault was appointed governor as of 1 July 1702. He was informed of his appointment by a letter of 28 June 1702. On 7 September Guitaud also died, and was replaced as interim governor by Nicolas de Gabaret, who held office until Machault was received in Martinique on 4 March 1703.

Marchault took office during the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1713), in which France was opposed by Germany, Britain and the Dutch Republic. On 1 November 1702 he was informed of the loss of Saint-Christophe to the English, with the garrison of three companies withdrawn from this island to Martinique. A letter of 27 November 1702 emphasised the urgency of his departure. On 20 December 1702 he was informed of the threat by the English governor Christopher Codrington to Guadeloupe. On 2 September 1705 he was told of the mission against Nevis and Saint Christopher that had just been entrusted to Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville, and asked to provide support. Machault died in 1709 and was succeeded by Gabaret on 7 January 1709. In 1710 Gabaret was in turn succeeded by Raymond Balthazar Phélipeaux.