American Revolution Biographies | Hector Crèvecoeur Biography

Born January 31, 1735
Caen, France
Died November 12, 1813
Sarcelles, France

Map maker, surveyor, farmer, writer, soldier, government official

Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur, a Frenchman known in America as Hector St. John, experienced both the American Revolution (1775–83) and the French Revolution (1789–99). He traveled throughout America and Europe as a soldier, writer, and government official. His books describing life in the American colonies during the time of the American Revolution became popular in both France and the United States.

Michel Guillaume Jean de Crèvecoeur (pronounced Mee-SHELL ghee-OHM JHON deh KREV-ker; his original name) was born in 1735 near Caen, France, to a family that was of lower-level noble rank. His father was Guillaume Jean de Crèvecoeur, owner of a large farm, and his mother was Dame Marie-Anne Blouet (pronounced blue-AAY). In...