MAHÉ DE LA BOURDONNAIS
Bertrand François Mahé de La Bourdonnais was born at St. Malo, France on the 11th February 1699. He went to sea at the age of 10, first saw the Indian Ocean in 1713 and during the next 20 years acquired a lot of experience while sailing and trading.
He was appointed Governor-General of Ile de France and Bourbon Islands, also known as the Mascarene Islands, on the 4th June 1735. He viewed both islands as an integrated self-sufficient unit that could be used to extend French influence in the Indian Ocean. To that effect, he developed agriculture in Bourbon Island while Ile de France became a commercial port and strategic naval base.
He contributed to transform Port Louis into a flourishing town by constructing the harbour, a shipyard and numerous buildings. He encouraged agriculture and introduced manioc.
He led several attacks against the British in India culminating with the victory at Negapatam and the surrender of Madras in September 1746. He was recalled early in 1747 and was imprisoned on his arrival in France on false charges. He was exonerated, released in 1751 and died two years later.