Michel de Salaberry enrolled in the French Merchant Navy at a very young age. He was a naval officer and a shipowner from the d' Irumberry de Salaberry family in the Basque area of France. His arrival in Quebec according to the family historical account, was in 1735 he was living there and by the next year he owned his own ship and was soon a force in commercial shipping. He married in Quebec, to Marie de Villeray and she had 2 daughters with him. He found living on shore too boring so returned to his ship. Michel returned to France, and by 1745 had made La Rochelle his home port. He offered his services to the King, and was entrusted with a perilous mission - to deliver orders to the Marquis of Beauharnais, at that time the Governor of Nouvelle France. During this journey, his ship was struck by a terrible storm, and were forced to change course, arriving on Martinique, where they stayed for several weeks to repair the ship. On April 20, 1745, they again headed out to sea, and arrived in Quebec on the 6th of June.
- Occupation
- naval officer, ship-owner
