Les médaillés de la Légion d'honneur de l'Ain XIXe siècle

[William Douglas]

The French government gives out the Legion of Honour awards, to both French and foreign nationals, based on a recipient's exemplary services rendered to France, or to the causes supported by France.

Kevin de Douglas has provided the following detail:

Pierre Archimbaud de Douglas was born on March 16, 1758 in Montreal, Canada. He was a student at the Military School in Paris and served as an officer in the Dragons de Belsunce (later the 5th Regiment of Chasseurs à Cheval) and in the Bourgogne-Cavalerie regiment. He inherited the Château de Montréal in the Bugey region and probably his title of Count. He was a Knight of the Order of Saint-Maurice and Saint-Lazare, lord of Terrebonne and Beauregard. He married Anne Marie Gabrielle Victoire Despiney on February 19, 1783 in Lyon. He was appointed commander of the cantonal militia on September 20, 1789. He was detained and released on May 8, 1793. On 16 Brumaire Year II, he was forced to appear before the General Council of Montréal to justify his French nationality. He was imprisoned again but released by Boisset on 26 Vendémiaire Year III. He became president of the canton assembly in 1796 and 1797, and was mayor of Montréal from 1802 to 1830. He was a general councilor from 1800 until 1829. He received the Legion of Honor from S.A.R. Monsieur during his visit to Bourg in 1814. He was appointed president of the electoral college of the Nantua district in August 1815, and was elected deputy of Ain on August 22, 1815. He died in Montréal on February 22, 1842.

Also listed is Robert Jacques Marie Gabriel de Douglas who was born on August 16, 1889 in Montréal. According to CARAN, his Legion of Honor dossier has the file code L0797024. However, there is no further information provided about him in the register.   However, the Douglas Archives does have this:

Jacques Marie Gabriel "Henri" de DOUGLAS Né le 16 août 1889 - Montréal-la-Cluse (01460),Fr-010,Ain,Rhône-Alpes,FRANCE Décédé le 11 décembre 1924 - Paris (75012),Fr-750112,Paris (Seine),Ile-de-France,FRANCE , à l’âge de 35 ans Sous directeur de banque, Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur, Croix de guerre 1914-1918,

Parents Jacques Théodore Sholto de DOUGLAS 1844-1925 and Yvonne Marie Félix LE GENTIL de PAROY 1848-1905