Céloron de Blainville, Pierre Joseph de

Céloron de Blainville, Pierre Joseph de (pyĕr zhôzĕf` də sālərôN` də blăNvēl`), 1693–1759, French Canadian soldier, b. Montreal. He was commandant at Michilimackinac (1734–42), Detroit (1742–43, 1750–53), Niagara (1744–46), and Crown Point (1746–47). In 1739–40 he led a detachment south to what is now Tennessee to cooperate with the Sieur de Bienville in a campaign against the Chickasaw and was decorated for his conduct. His most famous service was as leader of the expedition sent by the governor of New France in 1749 to take official possession of the Ohio valley and warn English traders to leave.