Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre
Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre | |
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| Born | October 24, 1701 Commandeur/Commandant |
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| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Order of Saint Louis |
Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre (October 24, 1701 - September 8, 1755) was a Canadian colonial military commander and explorer who held posts throughout North America in the 18th century, just before and during the French and Indian War.
Family life
He traced his lineage to a number of
Jean Nicollet de Belleborne.[1] Most immediately however, his father Jean-Paul was an adventurer and had founded a post at Chagouamigon in what is now Wisconsin in 1718.[1] It is believed that Jacques spent a number of years there with his father where he obtained an excellent knowledge of the Indian languages and the business conducted in the trading posts
.
Military life
In 1724 he began military service as a second
Ojibwa, Cree, and Sioux to assist the French in future campaigns against other Indian tribes. From 1734 to 1737, he was commandant at Fort Beauharnois (on Lake Pepin
, along the present day Wisconsin-Minnesota border) and caught in the middle of tribal rivalries. Fearing for himself and his garrison, he abandoned and burned the fort in May 1737.
From 1737 to 1740 he
Miami post near what is now known as Fort Wayne, Indiana for a short while. From 1745–1747 he was stationed at Montreal and carried out many military assignments, including a raid on the British colonial settlement of Saratoga, New York. In 1747 he and Louis de la Corne fought the British and their Indian allies in the Lachine
area.
From 1748–1750 he served at
Nipawin, Saskatchewan area). The western sea explorations were not expanded much beyond that point. The story goes that when Fort La Reine was invaded by a group of Assiniboines he saved the fort by standing at the door of the powder magazine with a blazing brand and threatening to blow everyone up if they did not leave.[4]
Returning from the western forts in 1753, Saint-Pierre was assigned to the
Fort Necessity. In 1755 Jacques led a large contingent of militia and Indians from Montreal into a battle at Lac du Saint-Sacrement (as Lake George, New York was then known) and was immediately killed. These actions contributed to beginning of the French and Indian War with the eventual formal declarations of war in spring 1756.[5]
Pierre's service to France in North America was valuable and extensive. He was a logical successor to La Vérendrye in the western forts and fur trade. He was awarded the cross of Saint Louis for his endeavors in military action. He was married but had no children. His widow remarried in 1757, to Luc de la Corne.
References
- ^ a b c d Chaput, Donald (1974). "Legardeur de Saint-Pierre, Jacques". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. III (1741–1770) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
- ^ de Repentigny, Léo-Guy, Histoire des Le Gardeur (in French), archived from the original on 2009-04-16, retrieved 2010-07-22
- ^ Ville de Repentigny ::: Historique (in French), Ville de Repentigny, 2008-10-02, archived from the original on 2010-07-31, retrieved 2010-07-22
- ^ Arthur S. Morton, History of the Canadian West,page 235
- ^ Fowler, 2005, p. 98
Sources
- ISBN 0-8027-1411-0.
External links
- Champagne, Antoine (1968–69). "The Vérendryes and Their Successors, 1727-1760". MHS Transactions. Series 3 (25). Manitoba Historical Society.
- Champagne, Antoine (1962–63). "Grand Rapids - An Old Historical Spot, 1727 - 1760". MHS Transactions. Series 3 (19). Manitoba Historical Society.
- Williamson, Norman J. (Autumn 1977). "Historic Bas de la Rivière, Part 1". MHS Transactions. Series 3 (23). Manitoba Historical Society.
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