Louis-Gaston de Cacqueray, seigneur de Valménier, was born on 11 November 1672 in
Fort Royal, Martinique. He was the son of Louis de Cacqueray, seigneur de Valménier (1632–1682) and Catherine de Saint-Ouen. His father was a naval officer and colonial administrator who was
governor of Grenada between 1654 and 1658. Louis-Gaston de Cacqueray joined the navy in 1687. He was appointed a
Garde de la Marine on 25 January 1689. In 1690 he distinguished himself under
Anne Hilarion de Tourville in the
Battle of Beachy Head fought in the
English Channel against the combined fleets of England and Holland. He was wounded in this action. On 1 January 1693 he was appointed
Enseigne de Vaisseau. That year he served in the 50-gun
Envieux and then on the 64-gun
Sérieux. He was
Lieutenant du Roi at
Saint-Christophe from 1697 to 1700. From 1701 to 1702 he was
Lieutenant du Roi at
Saint-Martin. From 8 November 1702 until 1793 he was
Lieutenant du Roi at Guadeloupe. During the
War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714), on 6 March 1703 an English fleet of 45 vessels carrying 4,000 soldiers and militia arrived off
Guadeloupe, which the governor
Charles Auger tried to defend against the superior English forces.
Nicolas de Gabaret reached Guadeloupe with reinforcements on 3 April 1703 and took command of the defense. His aides de camp were
Bonnaventure-François de Boisfermé, governor of
Marie-Galante, and two of the king's lieutenants Louis Gaston de Cacqueray de Valmenier and Jean Clair Dyel Du Parquet. An attempt to hold Fort Francis failed and the French were forced to the east. Gabaret adopted scorched earth tactics in Guadeloupe, destroying resources before falling back from the invaders into the interior, then harassing them while disease, drink and lack of food reduced their strength. The English withdrew their troops on 15 May 1703 and sailed away three days later. On 15 February 1705 Louis-Gaston de Cacqueray was sailing on
La Thetis as a passenger when the ship was captured and he was sent to
Plymouth as a prisoner. On 10 February 1709 he was again appointed
Lieutenant du Roi at Guadeloupe, holding this position until 1713. He was made a knight of the
Order of Saint Louis on 25 March 1713. From 7 August 1715 to 16 August 1721 he was
Lieutenant du Roi at
Martinique. In 1717 he was in Paris when he received the news of the insurrection in Martinique against the Governor General. The court ordered him to leave immediately with M. de la Garrigue, major of Martinique, to suppress this disorder. Louis-Gaston de Cacqueray died on 18 August 1724 at the age of 51. ==Family==