Jolliet Louis 1645-1700 Born At Quebec Son Of A Wagon-maker In


the employ of the Company of New France. Educated by the Jesuits, and

took minor orders, but renounced his clerical vocation to engage in the

fur trade. Sent by Talon to discover copper-mines on Lake Superior, and

met La Salle on his return journey, 1669, near the site of the city of

Hamilton. In 1673 set out with Jacques Marquette (q.v.) to discover

the Mississippi. Leaving Michilimackinac on May 17, they coasted the

orth shore of Lake Michigan, to the foot of Green Bay, ascended Fox

River to Lake Winnebago, and descended the Wisconsin to the Mississippi,

which they reached a month after leaving Michilimackinac. Descended the

great river, passing the mouths of the Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, and

Arkansas, and turned back from a village of the Arkansas Indians on July

17; returning to Lake Michigan by way of the Illinois. Jolliet was

unfortunate enough to lose the records of his journey at the foot of the

Lachine rapids, almost within sight of Montreal. Made a journey to

Hudson Bay in 1679; and the following year received a grant of the

Island of Anticosti, where he settled with his family. In 1694 explored

the coast of Labrador. On his return made royal pilot for the St.

Lawrence, and hydrographer of the colony. =Index=: (Count Frontenac era) Discoverer of

Mississippi, 155. (Wolfe / Montcalm era) Descends Mississippi, 19. (Bishop Laval era) Follows course of

Mississippi, 11; abandons priestly career and becomes explorer, 59; his

exploration of Mississippi, 146; his burial, 147. =Bib.=: Parkman, La

Salle; Faillon, Colonie Francaise en Canada; Margry, Decouvertes et

Etablissements des Francais; Gagnon, Louis Jolliet. See also

Marquette.



More

;