The dominant social class in the colony consisted of the military officers, who in general belonged to the lesser nobility. Their privileged status stemmed not from their wealth, but rather from family ties; officers' positions were handed down from father to son. Luc de la Corne (1711-1784) belonged to such a family. His father arrived in Canada in 1685 as a junior lieutenant in the Troupes de la Marine. A good officer, and wounded several times, he proceeded up the ranks to become a member of the colonial general staff. Five of his sons also became soldiers and distinguished themselves by their bravery. One of the sons, Luc, fought on all fronts between 1734 and 1760. He was known as the "general" of the Amerindians because they obeyed him. Like most of his brothers, Luc de la Corne departed for France after the Conquest, but he was shipwrecked and barely escaped. In the end, he decided to remain in Canada and to enter into the service of England, just as not long before he had served the King of France. At the age of sixty-four Luc de la Corne led Amerindian warriors against the American revolutionary army and he served until his death as a member of the Council in Quebec City, maintaining his social rank until the end.
