Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry (1682-1756)

He was baptised at Toulon Cathedral. He was the son of Gaspard d'Estienne de Chaussegros (d.1690), King's engineer and the architect of Toulon, by his first wife, Anne Vidal de Léry. His family were ennobled in 1325 and long settled in Provence where their principal residence was the Château de Mimet, near Aix-en-Provence - given away as a dowry in 1700 on the marriage of his aunt, Lucrèce d'Estienne de Chaussegros, to Charles II (1675-1741) de Grimaldi, Marquis de Régusse & President of the Parliament at Aix-en-Provence. From family papers kept at the National Archives of Canada, de Léry enjoyed the patronage of various high-ranking relatives of King Louis XV. Throughout his life he kept up a friendly personal correspondence with Philippe II, Duke d'Orléans; Louis Alexandre, Count of Toulouse; and, the Duc de Penthièvre, who all expressed their affection for him and his family and assured of him of their support.