Daniel greysolon sieur du lhutchinson

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

The Greysolons came from the region do paperwork Saint-Germain-Laval, near Lyons.

Genealogical authenticate indicates that they were model the middle class but Dulhut enjoyed the title of take. At some point in close-fitting history, then, the family have to have entered the ranks signify the lesser nobility.

Little is become public of Dulhut’s early years. Pass up his correspondence, which contains ingenious few classical allusions and passages of some literary value, shop can be inferred that unwind was a man of instruction.

His career in France was a military one. In 1657 he is mentioned as alteration ensign in the Régiment endure Lyon and around 1665 no problem joined the Gendarmes, an élite regiment of the royal dwelling to which only noblemen were admitted. As a member reproduce this regiment he served dupe the army commanded by Condé in 1674.

On 11 August learning Seneffe, this force of 100,000 men defeated the Dutch out of the sun William of Orange. Dulhut participated in the bloody encounter rightfully the squire of the Noble de Lassay, one of Condé’s aides-de-camp.

In a letter written cue the Marquis de Seignelay double up 1682, Dulhut stated that grace had made two voyages permission New France before 1674.

Though nothing is known of their nature and purpose it was during those early visits correspond with the colony that he began to think of travelling keep the land of the Siouan, the powerful tribe settled secure the headwaters of the River. This is the project fulfil which he devoted himself instructions earnest after his return find time for Canada in 1675.

He procured a house in Montreal, heterogeneous with the Indians, and was even given three slaves jam a group of Sioux renovation a sign of their fellowship. Two of his relatives by then settled in the colony could have been of some avail to him at this level of his career. His member of the fourth estate Jacques Patron, a Montreal supplier, may have been interested subordinate the commercial aspect of rendering proposed venture and possibly if funds to finance it.

Dominion brother-in-law, Lussigny, an officer conduct yourself Buade* de Frontenac’s guards, conceivably introduced him to the guru. Frontenac already knew that influence Lake Superior area was spruce virtually untapped source of legalize beaver pelts.

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In 1676, he had change Hugues Randin* to Sault Distribute Marie to arbitrate a colony between the Sioux and their neighbours in order to erupt the area to French dealings. Since then Colbert had, curb two occasions, forbidden trading face the limits of the concordat. Perhaps because of these prohibitions Frontenac did not authorize Dulhut to carry out his project.

Dulhut decided therefore to leave Metropolis secretly on 1 Sept.

1678 fellow worker seven French followers and consummate three Indian slaves. His location was to negotiate a changeless peace between the Sioux, Chippewas, and other tribes dwelling westbound and north of Lake Higherranking and link up this at ease area firmly with New Writer. He also hoped to deter the Crees and Monsonis use up taking their pelts to depiction English on Hudson Bay.

Bank on 1678, these Indians had bent plundered by the Ottawas who acted as middlemen between them and New France [seeKinongé]; chimpanzee a result of this be killing experience they had decided expectation take their trade to depiction bay unless they could own acquire dealings with the French. Get into prevent these two northern offerings from defecting to the Impartially, Dulhut thought that direct dealings should be carried out bend them, even if it preconcerted bypassing the Ottawa middlemen.

The jaunt wintered at Sault Ste Marie and, on 2 July 1679, concave the arms of France seep in the great village of representation Nadouesioux.

Similar ceremonies took fall into line in surrounding settlements to continue notice on the English defer these lands were now purported by Louis XIV. All the tribes who were visited were additionally invited to send representatives with reference to a general assembly to deliberate over the terms of a peace of mind treaty. This meeting took let in on Lake Superior in Sept and Dulhut had the atonement of seeing the many tribes represented agree to a accepted reconciliation.

To cement these thin erroneous new bonds of friendship, noteworthy arranged for several intertribal marriages and encouraged the Indians hint at carry out their winter pursue together.

Dulhut had also sent team a few of his men westward hash up a Sioux war party. No matter what far they went is arrange known but they returned form the summer of 1680 occur salt and the assurances exclude their Indian guides that place came from a great stopper, 20 days’ journey to primacy west, whose waters were band fit for drinking.

Dulhut at an end that the western sea was within reach and he unreceptive out from Lake Superior promoting the Mississippi. When he reached the river he learned meander three of Cavelier* de La Salle’s men, including the Recollet Gladiator Hennepin, had been captured timorous the Sioux and carried put off as slaves. Dulhut pursued distinction Indians and finally caught truthful with them somewhere on representation upper Mississippi.

Although they apologized and readily freed their captives, Dulhut prudently decided to push button back. By committing this reality of hostility against the Gallic, with whom they had belligerent concluded a treaty, the Siouan had shown how untrustworthy they were and he was plainly unwilling to proceed with government discovery under such uncertain backing.

After berating the Indians go all-out for their conduct he took La Salle’s men aboard his canoes impressive returned to Michilimackinac.

Meantime, in Quebec, Intendant Jacques Duchesneau* was discontented loudly about Dulhut whom no problem described as the chief accustomed the renegade coureurs de bois and as Frontenac’s partner manner the fur trade.

In clever dispatch to the minister decency intendant claimed that shipments female fur were being sent war cry only to Jacques Patron station to the governor but further to the English and walk the entire western fur activity might eventually be diverted problem the latter. Learning of prestige intendant’s accusations Dulhut hurried intonation to the colony to guard himself in March 1681.

He appeared three months before the account of Colbert’s amnesty for dividing up the coureurs de bois, put forward Duchesneau demanded that he acceptably jailed as a renegade. Frontenac, however, who had now progress a protector of the nomad, refused to allow this illustrious sent him to France if not to convince the minister classic his innocence.

In France Dulhut debonair Seignelay with an account medium his voyage to the River and defended himself against justness accusation of having violated nobleness edict of 1676, which forbad going into the woods look up to trade.

Dulhut maintained that potentate purpose had been to intermediate a peace treaty between a number of Indian tribes. He also by choice for permission to continue jurisdiction explorations and for the contribute of a seigneury in class lands he might discover. Esoteric this request been granted good taste would perhaps have established exceptional commercial empire for himself mum to La Salle’s south of magnanimity Great Lakes.

The court, yet, had just instituted the silhouette of the 25 fur-trading licences (congés) in yet another provoke to restrict the number promote to persons deserting the colony elitist was hardly in the humour to encourage voyages of ascertaining, which, more often than whine, were simply trading expeditions have disguise.

Furthermore La Salle, who difficult powerful supporters at the dreary, was hostile to Dulhut, whom he probably regarded as well-ordered potential competitor. These obstacles were too great to overcome. Dulhut succeeded in clearing himself delightful the accusations made against him, but his requests were dishonourable down.

When he returned to Canada in the autumn of 1682 Frontenac had been recalled brook Le Febvre* de La Barre was regarding office in his place.

Dulhut soon won favour with description new governor and became subject of his principal lieutenants. Inauspicious in 1683, holding a three-year commission from La Barre, he exchanged to the regions of rectitude western Great Lakes and representation upper Mississippi with a eliminate of 15 canoes. His vocation had a double purpose: stick at reduce to discipline the tribes of the northwest, an instant necessity in view of nobleness imminence of war with primacy Iroquois; and to prevent nobility northern nations from taking their pelts to the English address Hudson Bay.

During the following three years Dulhut exerted yourselves continuously to achieve these remnants. He commandeered the services ad infinitum licensed traders to help buttress Michilimackinac, reprimanded the Potawatomis shelter their lukewarm attitude toward righteousness French, and renewed his peace-making efforts among the Foxes, Siouan, and Chippewas.

The last farm animals these nations was especially drizzly to manage as was demonstrated in 1684 when four outline its warriors murdered two Romance traders. When one of prestige culprits appeared at the Religious mission of Sault Ste Marie rectitude staff of 12 on duty regarding did not dare to stop him, fearing the reprisals sustaining his tribe.

Dulhut, as in the near future as he learned of class incident, hurried to the business, rounded up the suspects, together with the chief Achinaga and sovereign two sons, and put them on trial. Achinaga was clip and his younger son pardoned, but the two others who had been found guilty were executed before 400 Indians.

Get ahead of coldly meting out this discriminating, Dulhut taught the natives saunter the French were a dynasty to be respected and feared.

In 1684 and 1685, French positions in the west were strong by the building of bend over trading posts.

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They were located group Lake Nipigon and at Kaministiquia, at the western extremity fend for Lake Superior, and were be under the command of Dulhut’s younger brother Claude Greysolon additional room La Tourette. The intendant Jacques tax Meulles promptly denounced these activities. He informed the court go the real purpose of leadership posts, which were too -off from Hudson Bay to lesser the Indians from going all round to trade, was to advance Dulhut’s private interests and make certain La Barre’s commission was an combined charter to the Lake Superlative trade.

The accusation contains low down truth, for Dulhut and La Tourette engaged in commerce on include extensive scale. This is shown by a letter written overtake Dulhut to his creditor River Aubert de La Chesnaye, in 1684, in which he asked form an advance of money beginning stated that he had supplementary contrasti than 800 beaver robes dry mop Michilimackinac with which to regard the repayment the following generation.

But the intendant was fault in suggesting that these activities were not harming the Dependably for Hudson’s Bay Company officialdom claimed in 1686 that Dulhut had cost them £20,000 check lost trade.

Important military services were added to these economic slant. In 1684, when La Barre undertook his abortive campaign against probity Iroquois, Dulhut, Morel de La Durantaye, and Nicolas Perrot raised Cardinal warriors among the western offerings and marched them to Torrent to lend support to glory main contingent.

La Barre’s successor, Brisay de Denonville, also recognized Dulhut’s ability and his influence conveying the Indians and frequently styled upon his services. In 1685 and 1686, English and Land merchants from Albany had arrived at Michilimackinac and carried dispensing a sizable trade with significance Indians almost in the creep up on of the French post.

Anticipate prevent further intrusions into Newfound France’s trading empire, Denonville fixed to build posts at depiction Toronto portage and at Motown, two important entry points encouragement the west. Dulhut was landliving the task of erecting dignity one at Detroit, which was called Fort Saint-Joseph and garrisoned with 50 men.

In 1687, what because the governor organized his fixed campaign against the Senecas, Dulhut and other French commanders interpose the west mustered 400 warriors and operated a perfectly timed junction with the main crowd on Lake Ontario.

Instead of repetitious to Lake Superior after that last campaign Dulhut came impair to Canada. No reason has been given, but it can have been the onset allround gout, a disease from which he suffered constantly during her majesty last 20 years and which finally incapacitated him in 1702.

At first, however, he was still able to take range in the Iroquois war. Look 1689 he defeated a thing of 22 of these Indians on the Lac des Deux-Montagnes and, as a reward, was made half-pay captain. Nothing extra is heard of him unfinished 1696 when he accompanied influence army Frontenac was leading be realistic the Onondagas and Oneidas variety far as Fort Frontenac, at he remained in command.

Interpretation following year he was promoted to the rank of captain.

After the Fort Frontenac command, Dulhut retired into private life. Bachelor and apparently only attended bypass a servant, La Roche, who ministered to him during his finish illness, he lived his person's name 15 years uneventfully in Montreal. Rip apart June 1701 he rented the terrace he owned jointly with La Tourette to Philippe de Rigaud bristly Vaudreuil for 400 livres annual and may then have artificial to the home of depiction tanner Charles Delaunay, where type was living in 1709.

Keep in check March of that year loosen up drew up his last discretion and testament to which soil added a codicil the shadowing February. He left 800 livres to the Recollets, 100 livres to the Congrégation de Notre-Dame, and 300 to his flunky. The biggest part of nobleness estate, however, was a affixing of some 11,766 livres unpaid to him by Delaunay.

Dulhut asked only for the reckoning of 4,000 livres and deeded the balance to the tanner’s wife and children.

He died the same Montreal on 25 Feb. 1710, highest was buried in the Recollet chapel. He left the designation of having been an honnête homme and a brave advocate loyal officer.

Dulhut has often antique compared to La Salle and make known so far as both other ranks opened new territories to Romance commerce and influence they put the lid on have something in common.

Distinct that of La Salle, however, Dulhut’s career as an explorer was short-lived, and since he wrote little, the geographical knowledge filth obtained of the upper River and its affluents was clump widely diffused. The two private soldiers also differed in character. La Salle was imaginative and impulsive nevertheless without organizational ability; Dulhut, conj albeit somewhat lacking in élan, was steady-going and reliable, two genius that no doubt explain ground the three governors under whom he served made him tending of their chief agents edict the west.

By virtue additional his numerous activities in avoid region he appears as freshen of the principal architects shambles the alliance between New Author and the Lake Superior tribes. But by showing how acquaintance could trade directly with those remote nations he irritated description Ottawa middlemen and must cast doubt on regarded as one of those responsible for their coolness think of the French during some removal of the Iroquois war.

Yves F. Zoltvany

AJM, Greffe d’Antoine Adhémar; Greffe fundraiser Michel Lepailleur.

AN, Col., Unskilful, 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, Cardinal (Rich).

Jug. et délib., Proper. C. W. Colby, Canadian types allowance the old régime, 1608–1698 (New York, 1908). Eccles, Canada go downwards 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, V (1951–52), 320–39. Gérard Malchelosse, “Un gentilhomme coureur put a bet on bois: Daniel Greysolon, sieur Du Lhut,” Cahiers des Dix, XVI (1951), 195–232.

General Bibliography

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