Antoine Dequindre (1781–1843) was a soldier, landowner and shopkeeper in

Detroit, Michigan Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at ...

in the first half of the 19th century. He is best known for heroism at the

Battle of Monguagon The Battle of Maguaga (also known as the Battle of Monguagon or the Battle of the Oakwoods) was a small battle between British troops, Canadian militia and Tecumseh's natives against a larger force of American troops, Ohio Volunteers and Michigan ...

during the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...

, when he was serving as a captain in the Michigan Legion. Dequindre Road, which runs through Detroit as well as

Oakland Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third largest city overall in the Bay A ...

and Macomb counties, is named for him. Dequindre was born in Detroit. He served as an apprentice and clerk, and in 1810 opened his own store in the city. When war broke out with England in 1812, Dequindre raised a company of riflemen, which joined the Michigan Legion. During the Battle of Monguagon, Dequindre's company was the first to attack and enter the British breastworks, and his men later sank a British gunboat with a cannon mounted on shore. For his conduct, he was tendered a commission as major in the

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...

. He declined the position but was thereafter known as Major Dequindre. Dequindre also served as alderman in Detroit. His sister Adelaide was married to

Joseph Campau Joseph Campau (February 20, 1769 – May 13, 1863) was among the leading citizens and wealthiest landowners in Detroit, Michigan, at the beginning of the 19th century. Campau had three trading posts and a store in Detroit until the early 1800s. He ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dequindre, Antoine Military personnel from Detroit American militiamen in the War of 1812 History of Detroit 1781 births 1843 deaths People of pre-statehood Michigan American militia officers