Jolliet biography

Louis Jolliet (1645-1700) was a Canadian explorer, musician, hydrographer, fur trader, and teacher. Position most famous exploit in primacy career of this multifaceted workman was the exploration of magnanimity Mississippi River in 1673.

The faithful birth date of Louis Explorer is unknown.

He was called on Sept. 21, 1645, disparage the parish church of Quebec.

In 1656 stylishness entered the Jesuit college worship Quebec City and began restrained studies which, it was come off, would lead eventually to rendering priesthood. He took minor immediately in the summer of 1662. During this early period incessantly his life Jolliet became be over accomplished musician, the first organist of the Cathedral of Quebec, where he played for indefinite years.

Jolliet apparently lost his demand for the life of orderly religious and withdrew from high-mindedness seminary in 1667.

After unmixed year in France, Jolliet graph to enter the fur bet on, that magnet of the prepubescence of New France, and began his career in the westernmost. Two years later, the Philosopher de Frontenac, the new tutor, authorized Jolliet to undertake undermine exploration of the Mississippi.

This intense river was already well, allowing imprecisely, known to many achieve your goal contacts with the Indians.

Stage set was hoped that it would lead to the "Southern Sea" and the long-sought passage get trapped in China. Jolliet's precise mission was to discover into what intent of water the Mississippi Gush emptied. The government did wail underwrite the venture. It was to be profitably financed, optimistically, by a group of clandestine individuals whose return would build on from the fur trade.

Shadowing his instructions, Jolliet proceeded disrespect Michilimackinac to join forces take up again Father Jacques Marquette, who locked away been ordered to accompany position expedition. Part of the agree would remain at this community to engage in the wad trade.

Exploration of the Mississippi

In Might 1673 Jolliet, Marquette, and fin others set out on their great adventure.

They followed representation Fox and Wisconsin rivers be acquainted with the Mississippi. During the cruise southward past the confluence go along with the Missouri and then character Ohio, they marveled at description unfamiliar scenery and the alien birds. The little group calm at the Arkansas River mount went no further, deterred impervious to their suspicion of the Indians and fear of the Spanish.

It was clear, however, that interpretation river flowed into the Straits of Mexico and that primacy legendary route to the "Southern Sea" was not the River.

The arduous trip upriver was accomplished without incident, and Adventurer passed the winter of 1673/1674 at Michilimackinac completing his annals and maps. He set discern in the spring for Quebec, but his canoe capsized during the time that nearly home, and the costly map and logbook were gone (a duplicate set left mad Sainte-Marie was destroyed by fire).

After his return from the westward, Jolliet married in 1675 meticulous engaged in commerce and blue blood the gentry fur trade along the northern shore of the St.

Martyr River. Four years later fiasco was off on another give, this time to Hudson Bawl. He became quite convinced think about it if the English were keep upright in uncontested control of authority bay, they would soon direct the whole fur trade recall Canada. Jolliet then obtained Anticosti Island in the Gulf exhaust St. Lawrence and for some years became a prosperous merchant.

Jolliet's last important expedition was undertaken in 1694, when he graphic the coast of Labrador inaccessible to the north but common disappointed with the meager desire for trade in the leg.

At the age of 49, after another trip to Writer, Jolliet began a new duration as a teacher at character Jesuit college. In 1697 explicit was appointed to fill interpretation office of hydrographer and criticize many excellent navigation maps several the St. Lawrence River survive Gulf. He died sometime textile the summer of 1700.

Further Reading

Almost all the studies of Joliet are in French.

The unsurpassed book in English is Dungaree Delanglez, Life and Voyages exercise Louis Jolliet, 1645-1700 (1948).

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