Captain François-Marie Renaud d'Avène des Méloizes (1655 – April 22, 1699) was a French Cavalry officer who came to New France in 1685 in command of the Troupes de Marine and led the successful expedition against the Senecas. The Comte de Frontenac considered him "one of the best and wisest officers" in Canada. He is buried in the vaults of Notre-Dame Basilica-Cathedral, Quebec City. Early life Born at Château des Aubues, Lormes, Bourgogne; the ancestral home of his mother's family since the early fifteenth century. He was the son of Edmé Renaud d’Avène, Seigneur des Méloizes et de Berges. His mother, Adrienne de Montsaulnin, was the daughter of Colonel Adrien de Montsaulnin of Château des Aubues; Seigneur de Montal, Aubues and Sancy; by his wife Gabrielle de Bussy-Rabutin of Château de Bussy-Rabutin; Dame de Chantal and Montal. Renaud was a first cousin of Louis de Montsaulnin (d.1686), 1st Marquis de Montsaulnin; and the uncle of General Louis de Montsaulnin (1688-1743), a godson of Louis XIV of France and later Governor of Luxembourg etc. Military career His uncle, Charles de Montsaulnin (1621-1696), was a close friend of Louis, Grand Condé and in 1668 Méloizes was commissioned into Condé's regiment. Four years later, he was a Standard-bearer in the Dragoons and the following year he held the same position in the Cavalry of the French Royal Army. In 1685, he acquired a company in the Troupes de Marine and by August of that year he arrived with his regiment at Quebec. In 1687, he accompanied Jacques-René de Brisay de Denonville, Marquis de Denonville, on his expedition against the Senecas, and signed the document recording the taking of their country. Louis de Buade de Frontenac held him in high esteem, considering him to be "one of the best and wisest officers" in Canada. At the time of his marriage his wife's grandfather gave him the fief of La Cloutièrerie, within the Seigneury of Beauport, selling it in 1693. He also owned some property in the Upper Town of Quebec City. Renaud d’Avène des Méloizes died 22 April 1699 at Quebec and was buried in the vaults of the Notre-Dame Basilica-Cathedral. Family In May, 1687, at Quebec City, Renaud d’Avène des Méloizes married Françoise-Thérèse (1670-1698), daughter of Nicholas Dupont de Neuville (1632-1716), Seigneur de Neuville and member of the Sovereign Council of New France. They were the parents of nine children. Six survived them