French Explorers

Daniel Greysolon Dulhut came from Saint-Germain-Laval, France. Not much is known about his early years except that his career in France was a military one. Before actually moving to New France there is record of him making two voyages but it is unknown why. On these visits he began to befriend the Sioux. In 1675 he acquired a house in Montreal with the help of family members already settled in the area. He mingled mostly with the Sioux and they gave him three slaves of his own.

Secretly, in 1678, he set out with French followers and his slaves to negotiate peace between tribes and to prevent them from trading with the English. For the winter they camped in Sault Ste. Marie and proceeded to raise French arms to let the English know that this land was now claimed by Louis XIV. He had sent three of his men out with a Sioux war party to see what was beyond this area. When they came back they brought salt to assured Dulhut that it came from a great lake that was not fit for drinking. They figured that the western sea was close and set out towards the Mississippi.

At this time in Quebec there was an up rise against Dulhut about his exploring, adding that he was corrupting fur trade. When he got wind of this news he hurried back to defend himself. He ended up in France to plead his innocence. While there he asked for permission to continue his exploration. The court believed it was a trading expedition in disguise and turned him down. Had his request been granted he may have been able to achieve more.

When Dulhut returned to Canada he went back to the western great lake area. This time with a purpose to discipline the tribes of the northwest and to prevent them from trading with the English. While this was going on four Chippewa’s warriors murdered two French tradesmen. Dulhut quickly hurried to round them up and have them charged. When the trial was over he made an example of them by executing them before four hundred Indians. This was to teach them that the French were people to be respected and feared. For the next few following years after he participated in the Iroquois war.

Dulhut had to retire early back to his private life as he was suffering from gout. The disease had been with him for about twenty years and was finally getting the best of him. In 1710 he died peacefully. His exploration had helped open new territories to French commerce but his career as an explorer was short lived.

Pierre-Esprit Radisson was presumed to have been born in 1640 somewhere in France. Little in known of his early years. The first mention of him was his capture by the Iroquois in 1651 from Trois Rivieres. He was taken to a small village where, because of his age, he was treated kindly. A notable Indian family took him in and he learned there language. He avidly went on expeditions and threw this adapted himself to his new environment. As he got a little older he decided to escape the tribe and safely reached Fort Orange. He worked there as an interpreter until he was shipped back to Europe in 1654.

When he journeyed back to New France in 1657 he joined a Jesuit missionary party to Saint-Marie-de-Gannet. Indian tribes in the area disapproved of the ventures and were determined to get rid of them. The Jesuit party learned of this and were planning to leave as soon as possible, as quietly as they could. Radisson being familiar with Indian psychology and language proved to be a big help as they made there escape.

His next adventure took him out with his uncle Des Groseilliers. They traveled to the far end of Lake Superior and the unexplored wilderness to the south and west. They set out in August, 1659 and returned one year later. Radisson recorded his venture of the country with detailed reports of "their strange, varied and often harrowing experiences". They had spent their winter with a Sioux tribe. He reported it to be a hard winter that killed many.

When they had returned that endured much hardship for the next while. Greedy government officials confiscated most of their furs claiming that they had gone west without the governors permission. Radisson and Des Groseilliers announced that next they were heading to Hudson Bay to explore but never made it. Instead they traveled to New England where they were persuaded by the commissioner of the king to go to England on empire business. At this time England and the Dutch were at war over the supremacy of the sea. On the voyage their ship was captured and looted. They landed in Spain and had to make their way to England with very little. When they arrived in England they were paid by the king for their hardship. Soon they realized that England at the time was as bad as Indian country.

In 1668 when they arrived back in New France they set out once more to Hudson Bay. This time arriving as planned. They came out with a large number of beaver pelts. This was the incentive for establishing the Hudson Bay Company. For the next few years they were kept occupied with traveling between Hudson Bay, New England, and England. Their travels kept their employers advised of provision and trading commodities. In 1675 Jesuit Father Albanel persuaded them to return to the French Allegiance which they did.

Radisson returned to France to carry on with other endeavors. He did no further exploration of present day Canada but did travel to many other places. He returned to the Hudson Bay Company but worked for the office in England. In 1710 he died but it is not known when and where. It is said that Radisson had the ability to endure hardships of the wilderness and had the instinctive potential of certain areas.

Pierre Gaultier De Varennes Et De La Verendrye was born at Trois Rivieres in 1685. He began his life in the military were he was seriously wounded and honorably discharged. That led to the marriage which introduced him to the fur trade industry. He began trading a few weeks a year for extra money. Eventually took up commanding a post in which he learned through the Indians. One drew a map to show him that the route to the western sea was farther west yet. Gathering as much information as he could he then traveled to Quebec to ask permission to build a fort. The courts gave him permission to as they believed the trade would benefit them.

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