Robert Cloche de La Malmaison

His father was Georges Cloche, a prosecutor of the king and then a lawyer in the Élection d'Épernay, part of the Généralité de Châlons in the province of Champagne.

[1] During the Nine Years' War (1688–97) the governor general of the Windward Islands Charles de Courbon de Blénac resigned on 29 January 1690 after criticism of his lack of response to the English attacks on Saint Barthelemy, Marie-Galante and Saint Martin, and returned to France to defend himself at court.

[3] François d'Alesso d'Éragny was appointed his successor in May 1690, but the marquis de Seignelay did not treat his departure as a matter of urgency.

[3] La Malmaison led the resistance of the fort at Basse-Terre for 36 days, when d'Eragny arrived in Guadeloupe with a force of buccaneers and other troops, at which Codrington hastily reembarked leaving behind cannons and some of his wounded.

[14] A letter from the Secretary of the Navy of 3 October 1708 discussed militia appointments and other military matters, and reprimanded him for his violence against M. Du Boucher, negligence in defense of the island and interference in the judicial field.

[15] A letter of 29 November 1709 discussed the arrival in Guadeloupe of M. de Valmeinière, insubordination of the colony's officers, fortifications proposed by the Sieur Binois, cannons that had been sent him, privateering rules, supply of slaves, arguments he had with the Sieur Du Bouchet, relations with the island's council, organization of militias, lack of religious services at Fort Saint-Louis and other subjects.

[16] A letter of 4 April 1712 discussed the arrival of ships carrying supplies, repression of foreign trade, construction of the church at Fort Saint-Louis, the failed attack by the English on Canada in September 1710 and other matters.

It authorized La Malmaison to assume governorship of the Windward Islands in the event of the absence or death of Phélypeaux.