Lévis, François Gaston, duc de

Lévis, François Gaston, duc de

(fräNswä` gästôN` dük də lāvēs`), 1720–87, French soldier. Entering the army in 1735, he distinguished himself in the War of the Austrian Succession. As second in command to General Montcalm, he was sent (1756) to Canada. After Montcalm's death, he was commander (1759–60) of the French troops in Canada. Lévis defeated the British at Ste Foy, near Quebec, but abandoned his siege of Quebec on the arrival of the British fleet. Later that year (1760) he was forced to surrender Montreal. After his return to France, he became lieutenant general (1761), marshal (1783), and duke (1784). H. R. Casgrain edited Lévis's papers (12 vol., 1889–96) and wrote Montcalm et Lévis (1891).