François de La Vérendrye
Encyclopedia
François de La Vérendrye (1715 – July 31, 1794) was the third son of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de la Vérendrye. He was born at Sorel, New France
in 1715 and was active in his father's trade activities from Fort Kaministiquia
to the North Saskatchewan River
.
In 1738 he was part of his father's expedition to Mandan country in what is now North Dakota
. In 1739 he accompanied his brother, Louis-Joseph
, and together they discovered the Saskatchewan River
. In 1742-43, he and his brother traveled southwest through Mandan territory, ascended the upper Missouri River
and discovered the Rocky Mountains. He returned east and served in the army during the Seven Years' War
. He died on July 31, 1794 in Montreal
.
He was one of two brothers to use the title "Chevalier
" the other being Louis-Joseph. This causes some confusion when reading English translations of journals of the time. In 1762 he became known as the Sieur du Tremblay. With his death, the name La Vérendrye disappeared.
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
in 1715 and was active in his father's trade activities from 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...
to the North Saskatchewan River
North Saskatchewan River
The North Saskatchewan River is a glacier-fed river that flows east from the Canadian Rockies to central Saskatchewan. It is one of two major rivers that join to make up the Saskatchewan River....
.
In 1738 he was part of his father's expedition to Mandan country in what is now North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. In 1739 he accompanied his brother, Louis-Joseph
Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye
Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye was a French Canadian fur trader and explorer who took part in extending these activities westerly from the Great Lakes during the eighteenth century, an enterprise for which he and other members of his family were largely responsible...
, and together they discovered the Saskatchewan River
Saskatchewan River
The Saskatchewan River is a major river in Canada, approximately long, flowing roughly eastward across Saskatchewan and Manitoba to empty into Lake Winnipeg...
. In 1742-43, he and his brother traveled southwest through Mandan territory, ascended the upper Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
and discovered the Rocky Mountains. He returned east and served in the army during the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
. He died on July 31, 1794 in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.
He was one of two brothers to use the title "Chevalier
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
" the other being Louis-Joseph. This causes some confusion when reading English translations of journals of the time. In 1762 he became known as the Sieur du Tremblay. With his death, the name La Vérendrye disappeared.
See also
- Sons of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La VérendryePierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La VérendryePierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye was a French Canadian military officer, fur trader and explorer. In the 1730s he and his four sons opened up the area west of Lake Superior and thus began the process that added Western Canada to the original New France in the Saint Lawrence basin...
:- Jean Baptiste de La VérendryeJean Baptiste de La VérendryeJean-Baptiste Gaultier de la Vérendrye was the eldest son of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye and Marie-Anne Dandonneau Du Sablé...
(b. 1713) - Pierre Gaultier de La VérendryePierre Gaultier de La VérendryePierre Gaultier de La Vérendrye de Boumois was the second son of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye...
(b. 1714) - François de La Vérendrye (b. 1715)
- Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La VérendryeLouis-Joseph Gaultier de La VérendryeLouis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye was a French Canadian fur trader and explorer who took part in extending these activities westerly from the Great Lakes during the eighteenth century, an enterprise for which he and other members of his family were largely responsible...
(b. 1717)
- Jean Baptiste de La Vérendrye