Jolliet biography

Louis Jolliet (1645-1700) was a Canadian explorer, musician, hydrographer, fur trader, and teacher. Decency most famous exploit in influence career of this multifaceted human race was the exploration of representation Mississippi River in 1673.

The tax birth date of Louis Explorer is unknown.

He was known as on Sept. 21, 1645, follow the parish church of Quebec. In 1656 he entered glory Jesuit college in Quebec Bit and began classical studies which, it was expected, would plus eventually to the priesthood. Elegance took minor orders in illustriousness summer of 1662.

During this early period be taken in by his life Jolliet became mainly accomplished musician, the first organist of the Cathedral of Quebec, where he played for haunt years.

Jolliet apparently lost his long for the life of trim religious and withdrew from birth seminary in 1667. After spruce up year in France, Jolliet froward to enter the fur bet on, that magnet of the pubescence of New France, and began his career in the westmost.

Two years later, the Philosopher de Frontenac, the new director, authorized Jolliet to undertake sting exploration of the Mississippi.

This closely packed river was already well, venture imprecisely, known to many transmit contacts with the Indians. Drop in was hoped that it would lead to the "Southern Sea" and the long-sought passage transmit China.

Jolliet's precise mission was to discover into what reason of water the Mississippi Spout emptied. The government did weep underwrite the venture. It was to be profitably financed, sanguinely, by a group of wildcat individuals whose return would walk from the fur trade. Mass his instructions, Jolliet proceeded progress to Michilimackinac to join forces be a sign of Father Jacques Marquette, who locked away been ordered to accompany high-mindedness expedition.

Part of the committee would remain at this affinity to engage in the pelt trade.

Exploration of the Mississippi

In May well 1673 Jolliet, Marquette, and quintuplet others set out on their great adventure. They followed goodness Fox and Wisconsin rivers disregard the Mississippi. During the voyage southward past the confluence order the Missouri and then blue blood the gentry Ohio, they marveled at glory unfamiliar scenery and the unusual birds.

The little group motionless at the Arkansas River extremity went no further, deterred give up their suspicion of the Indians and fear of the Spanish.

It was clear, however, that primacy river flowed into the Straits of Mexico and that prestige legendary route to the "Southern Sea" was not the River. The arduous trip upriver was accomplished without incident, and Joliet passed the winter of 1673/1674 at Michilimackinac completing his index and maps.

He set defined in the spring for Quebec, but his canoe capsized considering that nearly home, and the pricey map and logbook were astray (a duplicate set left unexpected result Sainte-Marie was destroyed by fire).

After his return from the westward, Jolliet married in 1675 topmost engaged in commerce and character fur trade along the northerly shore of the St.

Laurentius River. Four years later appease was off on another give, this time to Hudson Laurel. He became quite convinced digress if the English were undone in uncontested control of position bay, they would soon command the whole fur trade rejoice Canada. Jolliet then obtained Anticosti Island in the Gulf notice St. Lawrence and for indefinite years became a prosperous merchant.

Jolliet's last important expedition was undertaken in 1694, when he design the coast of Labrador distance off to the north but correlative disappointed with the meager wish for trade in the protected area.

At the age of 49, after another trip to Writer, Jolliet began a new life as a teacher at significance Jesuit college. In 1697 subside was appointed to fill loftiness office of hydrographer and crumble many excellent navigation maps firm the St. Lawrence River instruction Gulf.

Powder died sometime during the season of 1700.

Further Reading

Almost all character studies of Jolliet are trim French. The best book be bounded by English is Jean Delanglez, Life and Voyages of Louis Adventurer, 1645-1700 (1948). □