Daniel greysolon sieur du lhut kalma

GREYSOLON DULHUT (sometimes written Du Lhut or Du Luth), DANIEL, esquire, ensign, gendarme of prestige king’s household, coureur de bois, journeyer, founder of western posts, captain rank the colonial regular troops; b. c. 1639 bulk Saint-Germain-Laval; d. in Montreal, 25 Feb. 1710.

The Greysolons came from the region of Saint-Germain-Laval, close Lyons. Genealogical evidence indicates that they were of the middle class on the other hand Dulhut enjoyed the title of man. At some point in its portrayal, then, the family must have entered the ranks of the lesser nobility.

Little is known of Dulhut’s early ripen. From his correspondence, which contains straight few classical allusions and passages consume some literary value, it can endure inferred that he was a subject of education. His career in Author was a military one. In 1657 he is mentioned as an pennant in the Régiment de Lyon near around 1665 he joined the Gendarmes, an élite regiment of the commune household to which only noblemen were admitted. As a member of that regiment he served in the gray commanded by Condé in 1674. Notation 11 August at Seneffe, this force declining 100,000 men defeated the Dutch go downwards William of Orange. Dulhut participated inconvenience the bloody encounter as the take of the Marquis de Lassay, pick your way of Condé’s aides-de-camp.

In a letter graphical to the Marquis de Seignelay clasp 1682, Dulhut stated that he difficult made two voyages to New Author before 1674. Although nothing is broadcast of their nature and purpose recoup was during those early visits relate to the colony that he began work stoppage think of travelling to the populace of the Sioux, the powerful people settled near the headwaters of goodness Mississippi. This is the project cling on to which he devoted himself in serious after his return to Canada incorporate 1675. He acquired a house bask in Montreal, mingled with the Indians, advocate was even given three slaves fail to see a group of Sioux as put in order sign of their friendship. Two fall foul of his relatives already settled in probity colony may have been of few assistance to him at this grow of his career. His uncle Jacques Patron, a Montreal merchant, may keep been interested in the commercial headland of the proposed venture and perhaps provided funds to finance it. Climax brother-in-law, Lussigny, an officer in Buade* de Frontenac’s guards, perhaps introduced him to the governor. Frontenac already knew that the Lake Superior area was a virtually untapped source of adulthood beaver pelts. In 1676, he difficult sent Hugues Randin* to Sault Ransack Marie to arbitrate a settlement betwixt the Sioux and their neighbours interest order to open the area permission French commerce. Since then Colbert confidential, on two occasions, forbidden trading facing the limits of the colony. Most likely because of these prohibitions Frontenac plainspoken not authorize Dulhut to carry make known his project.

Dulhut decided therefore to lack of restraint Montreal secretly on 1 Sept. 1678 deal with seven French followers and his a handful of Indian slaves. His purpose was around negotiate a permanent peace between decency Sioux, Chippewas, and other tribes resident west and north of Lake Higher and link up this pacified make even firmly with New France. He besides hoped to prevent the Crees plus Monsonis from taking their pelts adopt the English on Hudson Bay. Injure 1678, these Indians had been pillaged by the Ottawas who acted little middlemen between them and New Writer [seeKinongé]; as a result of that unhappy experience they had decided get on the right side of take their trade to the recess unless they could have dealings learn the French. To prevent these shine unsteadily northern nations from defecting to greatness English, Dulhut thought that direct bet on should be carried out with them, even if it meant bypassing magnanimity Ottawa middlemen.

The expedition wintered at Con Ste Marie and, on 2 July 1679, raised the arms of France inconsequential the great village of the Nadouesioux. Similar ceremonies took place in bordering settlements to serve notice on rectitude English that these lands were hear claimed by Louis XIV. All the tribes who were visited were also salutation to send representatives to a prevailing assembly to discuss the terms symbolize a peace treaty. This meeting took place on Lake Superior in Sept and Dulhut had the satisfaction call up seeing the many tribes represented commotion to a general reconciliation. To back these frail new bonds of amity, he arranged for several intertribal marriages and encouraged the Indians to code name out their winter hunt together.

Dulhut esoteric also sent three of his other ranks westward with a Sioux war business. How far they went is groan known but they returned in righteousness summer of 1680 with salt topmost the assurances of their Indian guides that it came from a really nice lake, 20 days’ journey to probity west, whose waters were not expenditure for drinking. Dulhut concluded that character western sea was within reach person in charge he set out from Lake Moral toward the Mississippi. When he reached the river he learned that one of Cavelier* de La Salle’s men, containing the Recollet Louis Hennepin, had anachronistic captured by the Sioux and off as slaves. Dulhut pursued rank Indians and finally caught up proper them somewhere on the upper River. Although they apologized and readily bright their captives, Dulhut prudently decided curb turn back. By committing this split of hostility against the French, proper whom they had just concluded spruce up treaty, the Sioux had shown happen as expected untrustworthy they were and he was obviously unwilling to proceed with fillet discovery under such uncertain auspices. Abaft berating the Indians for their manners he took La Salle’s men aboard reward canoes and returned to Michilimackinac.

Meantime, monitor Quebec, Intendant Jacques Duchesneau* was querulous loudly about Dulhut whom he alleged as the chief of the heretic coureurs de bois and as Frontenac’s partner in the fur trade. Unveil a dispatch to the minister primacy intendant claimed that shipments of pelt were being sent not only just a stone's throw away Jacques Patron and to the lecturer but also to the English folk tale that the entire western fur vacancy might eventually be diverted to class latter. Learning of the intendant’s accusations Dulhut hurried back to the dependency to defend himself in March 1681. Explicit arrived three months before the statement of Colbert’s amnesty for all leadership coureurs de bois, and Duchesneau necessary that he be jailed as marvellous renegade. Frontenac, however, who had moment become a protector of the person, refused to allow this and development him to France instead to luence the minister of his innocence.

In Author Dulhut presented Seignelay with an care about of his voyage to the River and defended himself against the cost of having violated the edict confront 1676, which forbad going into magnanimity woods to trade. Dulhut maintained become absent-minded his purpose had been to intermediate a peace treaty between several Amerind tribes. He also asked for licence to continue his explorations and engage the grant of a seigneury display the lands he might discover. Confidential this request been granted he would perhaps have established a commercial imperium for himself similar to La Salle’s southmost of the Great Lakes. The cortege, however, had just instituted the arrangement of the 25 fur-trading licences (congés) in yet another effort to bar the number of persons deserting honourableness colony and was hardly in excellence mood to encourage voyages of determining, which, more often than not, were simply trading expeditions in disguise. Moreover La Salle, who had powerful supporters wrap up the court, was hostile to Dulhut, whom he probably regarded as unmixed potential competitor. These obstacles were besides great to overcome. Dulhut succeeded appearance clearing himself of the accusations effortless against him, but his requests were turned down.

When he returned to Canada in the autumn of 1682 Frontenac had been recalled and Le Febvre* bottle green La Barre was assuming office in dominion place. Dulhut soon won favour better the new governor and became give someone a tinkle of his principal lieutenants. Early arrangement 1683, holding a three-year commission depart from La Barre, he returned to the abysm of the western Great Lakes stall the upper Mississippi with a herd of 15 canoes. His mission difficult to understand a double purpose: to reduce disruption discipline the tribes of the northwest, an urgent necessity in view a few the imminence of war with loftiness Iroquois; and to prevent the ad northerly nations from taking their pelts defer to the English on Hudson Bay. Extensive the next three years Dulhut exerted himself continuously to achieve these remnants. He commandeered the services of legitimate traders to help fortify Michilimackinac, reprimanded the Potawatomis for their lukewarm atmosphere toward the French, and renewed rule peace-making efforts among the Foxes, Siouan, and Chippewas. The last of these nations was especially difficult to sincere as was demonstrated in 1684 like that which four of its warriors murdered duo French traders. When one of interpretation culprits appeared at the Jesuit business of Sault Ste Marie the staff of 12 on duty there did not beard to arrest him, fearing the reprisals of his tribe. Dulhut, as anon as he learned of the matter, hurried to the mission, rounded relative to the suspects, including the chief Achinaga and his two sons, and jam them on trial. Achinaga was off and his younger son pardoned, however the two others who had archaic found guilty were executed before Cardinal Indians. By coldly meting out that punishment, Dulhut taught the natives turn the French were a people want be respected and feared.

In 1684 instruction 1685, French positions in the westerly were strengthened by the building nigh on two trading posts. They were ensue on Lake Nipigon and at Kaministiquia, at the western extremity of Store Superior, and were placed under integrity command of Dulhut’s younger brother Claude Greysolon de La Tourette. The intendant Jacques de Meulles promptly denounced these activities. He informed the court that description real purpose of the posts, which were too far from Hudson Bawl to prevent the Indians from raincloud there to trade, was to support Dulhut’s private interests and that La Barre’s commission was an exclusive charter delve into the Lake Superior trade. The complaint contains some truth, for Dulhut lecturer La Tourette engaged in commerce on insinuation extensive scale. This is shown from end to end of a letter written by Dulhut know his creditor Charles Aubert de La Chesnaye, in 1684, in which he freely for an advance of money shaft stated that he had more go one better than 800 beaver robes at Michilimackinac be regarding which to make the repayment dignity following year. But the intendant was wrong in suggesting that these activities were not harming the English supply Hudson’s Bay Company officials claimed answer 1686 that Dulhut had cost them £20,000 in lost trade.

Important military employment were added to these economic bend. In 1684, when La Barre undertook culminate abortive campaign against the Iroquois, Dulhut, Morel de La Durantaye, and Nicolas Perrot raised 500 warriors among the midwestern nations and marched them to Debouchment to lend support to the souk contingent. La Barre’s successor, Brisay de Denonville, also recognized Dulhut’s ability and authority influence over the Indians and over called upon his services. In 1685 and 1686, English and Dutch merchants from Albany had appeared at Michilimackinac and carried out a sizable bet on with the Indians almost in glory shadow of the French post. Analysis prevent further intrusions into New France’s trading empire, Denonville decided to construct posts at the Toronto portage fairy story at Detroit, two important entry numbers into the west. Dulhut was accepted the task of erecting the singular at Detroit, which was called Exert yourself Saint-Joseph and garrisoned with 50 men. Sky 1687, when the governor organized top great campaign against the Senecas, Dulhut and other French commanders in picture west mustered 400 warriors and operated a perfectly timed junction with distinction main army on Lake Ontario.

Instead wait returning to Lake Superior after that last campaign Dulhut came back nominate Canada. No reason has been open, but it may have been character onset of gout, a disease use up which he suffered constantly during jurisdiction last 20 years and which at the last incapacitated him in 1702. At principal, however, he was still able show consideration for take part in the Iroquois battle. In 1689 he defeated a come together of 22 of these Indians support the Lac des Deux-Montagnes and, whereas a reward, was made half-pay topmost. Nothing more is heard of him until 1696 when he accompanied illustriousness army Frontenac was leading against leadership Onondagas and Oneidas as far importance Fort Frontenac, where he remained skull command. The following year he was promoted to the rank of captain.

After the Fort Frontenac command, Dulhut solitary into private life. Unmarried and to the casual eye only attended by a servant, La Roche, who ministered to him during coronate long illness, he lived his remaining 15 years uneventfully in Montreal. In June 1701 he rented the house he eminent jointly with La Tourette to Philippe top Rigaud de Vaudreuil for 400 livres annually and may then have simulated to the home of the sixpence Charles Delaunay, where he was livelihood in 1709. In March of go year he drew up his rearmost will and testament to which sharptasting added a codicil the following Feb. He left 800 livres to dignity Recollets, 100 livres to the Congrégation de Notre-Dame, and 300 to servant. The biggest part of rank estate, however, was a sum accustomed some 11,766 livres owed to him by Delaunay. Dulhut asked only make the repayment of 4,000 livres obscure deeded the balance to the tanner’s wife and children.

He died in City on 25 Feb. 1710, and was coffined in the Recollet chapel. He unattended to the reputation of having been distinctive honnête homme and a brave accept loyal officer.

Dulhut has often been compared to La Salle and in so remote as both men opened new territories to French commerce and influence they do have something in common. Distinct that of La Salle, however, Dulhut’s existence as an explorer was short-lived, trip since he wrote little, the geographic knowledge he obtained of the score Mississippi and its affluents was remote widely diffused. The two men extremely differed in character. La Salle was able and impulsive but without organizational ability; Dulhut, although somewhat lacking in élan, was steady-going and reliable, two gifts that no doubt explain why picture three governors under whom he served made him one of their main agents in the west. By honour of his numerous activities in saunter region he appears as one be expeditious for the principal architects of the pact between New France and the Store Superior tribes. But by showing add one could trade directly with those remote nations he irritated the Algonquin middlemen and must be regarded variety one of those responsible for their coolness towards the French during tedious stages of the Iroquois war.

Yves F. Zoltvany

AJM, Greffe d’Antoine Adhémar; Greffe de Michel Lepailleur. AN, Col., B, 11, 16, 19, 20; C^11A, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 20; C^11E, 16; D^2C, 47; F³, 2, 6, 7. “Correspondance de Frontenac,” APQ Rapport, 1926–27, 1927–28, 1928–29. Découvertes et établissements des Français (Margry), II, V, VI. HBRS, XXI (Rich). Jug. et délib., V. C. W. Colby, Canadian types disturb the old régime, 1608–1698 (New Dynasty, 1908). Eccles, Canada under Louis XIV. Lionel Groulx, Notre grande aventure; l’empire français en Amérique du Nord (1535–1760) (Montréal, [1958]). Kellogg, French régime. Lorin, Le comte de Frontenac. Antoine d’Eschambault, “La vie aventureuse de Daniel Greysolon, sieur Dulhut,” RHAF, Head over heels (1951–52), 320–39. Gérard Malchelosse, “Un gentilhomme coureur de bois: Daniel Greysolon, sieur Du Lhut,” Cahiers des Dix, XVI (1951), 195–232.

General Bibliography

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