Charles-Michel Mesaiger
Encyclopedia
Charles-Michel Mesaiger was a French Jesuit priest who spent some time in missionary work in present day Canada.
Mesaiger arrived in Canada in 1722 and spent a number of years in the mission to the Ottawas at Michilimackinac
. He subsequently became a chaplain to the French and joined Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye and his party as they began a serious exploration of the land to the west of Fort Kaministiquia
. He was instrumental in sending out the first party which built Fort St. Pierre
on Rainy Lake in 1731. In 1732, he accompanied the la Vérendryes to that fort and beyond to Lake of the Woods
where they built Fort St. Charles
.
Poor health forced Mesaiger to return to the east in 1733. He had influenced the beginning of the La Vérendrye explorations which would continue to push westward. He also became the first missionary to travel this far west. His replacement, Jean-Pierre Aulneau
, was to become a martyr in carrying on the mission that Mesaiger had started.
Mesaiger arrived in Canada in 1722 and spent a number of years in the mission to the Ottawas at Michilimackinac
Michilimackinac
Michilimackinac is a name for the region around the Straits of Mackinac between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Early settlers of North America applied the term to the entire region along Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superior. Today it is mostly within the boundaries of Michigan, in the United States...
. He subsequently became a chaplain to the French and joined Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye and his party as they began a serious exploration of the land to the west of Fort Kaministiquia
Fort Kaministiquia
Fort Camanistigoyan, now standardized as Fort Kaministiquia, located at the mouth of the Kaministiquia River on Lake Superior in what is now northwestern Ontario, Canada, was established in 1717 by Zacharie Robutel de la Noue following the restoration of the system of trading permits by...
. He was instrumental in sending out the first party which built Fort St. Pierre
Fort St. Pierre
Fort Saint Pierre was the first fort built west of Fort Kaministiquia by Pierre La Vérendrye in northwestern Ontario. La Vérendrye, the first western commander, built it in 1731 at the beginning of his explorations. As military officer, La Vérendrye had multiple responsibilities, and he created...
on Rainy Lake in 1731. In 1732, he accompanied the la Vérendryes to that fort and beyond to Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods is a lake occupying parts of the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba and the U.S. state of Minnesota. It separates a small land area of Minnesota from the rest of the United States. The Northwest Angle and the town of Angle Township can only be reached from the rest of...
where they built Fort St. Charles
Fort St. Charles
Fort Saint Charles was a secure trading post constructed in 1732, one of several western forts built under the direction of military commander La Vérendrye...
.
Poor health forced Mesaiger to return to the east in 1733. He had influenced the beginning of the La Vérendrye explorations which would continue to push westward. He also became the first missionary to travel this far west. His replacement, Jean-Pierre Aulneau
Jean-Pierre Aulneau
Father Jean-Pierre Aulneau de la Touche, S.J. was a Jesuit missionary priest who was briefly active in New France and killed before he could take part in his first major assignment which was to be an expedition to the Mandan. He died near Fort St. Charles, on Lake of the Woods in an area now in...
, was to become a martyr in carrying on the mission that Mesaiger had started.