Philip Francois Renault
Encyclopedia
Philip Francois Renault a French
explorer and favorite courtier
of King Louis XV, left his native Picardy
in 1719 for the Illinois Country
. He was to lead efforts to develop mining in the Illinois Country
. He was more successful with his concession of land fronting the Mississippi River
on which he founded St. Philippe, an agricultural community. It was quickly exporting surpluses to French settlements in lower Louisiana
, as well as ones on the mid-Mississippi River
which were less successful than those of Illinois.
which acquired the French East India Company and became the Company of the Indies, also in 1719. The Company was formed by the French for the exploitation of their American possessions. Along the way, he purchased 200 African slaves
in Santo Domingo
, for use in the mines he expected to develop. These men were the first enslaved Africans brought to Illinois or Missouri.
In 1723 Renault was granted “in freehold, in order to make his establishment upon the mines” of a tract of land a league and a half in a width by six in depth on the “Little Marameig
” in Upper Louisiana (Missouri); another tract of two leagues “at the mine called the mine of Lamothe
;” another of one league in front of Pimeteau on the river Illinois; and “one league fronting on the Mississippi, at the place called the Great Marsh, adjoining on one side to the Illinois Indians, settled near Fort de Chartres
, with a depth of two leagues, this place being the situation which has been granted to him for the raising of provisions, and to enable him to furnish then to all the settlements he shall make upon the mines.” Upon the latter grant in Illinois Country, Renault expected to grow the food for his mining operations in the rich, black soil of what would become known as the American Bottom
.
He founded a settlement, St Philippe, in the southern part of present day Monroe County, Illinois
, about three miles north along the river from Fort de Chartres
. Agriculture was the most successful of his enterprises. The community of St. Philippe quickly produced a surplus which it sold to settlers downriver in New Orleans, as well as at other French settlements, such as Arkansas Post, less successful in farming.
Renault's efforts in Illinois to locate exploitable metals were largely futile; in Missouri he fared slightly better, and he is credited with operating the first viable lead
mines in Missouri's Lead Belt
at La Vieille Mine (Old Mines
). He returned to France in 1749, passing his interests in the area on to others. He died intestate and without heirs. In the early and late 19th century, attempts by persons' claiming to represent his estate to reclaim lands he was granted, did not meet with success.
By the late 19th century, the descendants of Renault's brothers Armand and Jacques, both of whom had emigrated to the East Coast of the U.S., had changed the spelling of their name to Reno, an anglicization of the sound. In 1888 the Reno Association, comprising 400 descendants mostly in New York and Pennsylvania, tried to claim the earlier holdings to Renault, without success. By then his former lands in Illinois and Missouri were estimated to be worth $40,000,000.
Deforestation
of river banks caused by crews' cutting trees to fuel steamboats led to increased flooding and channel shifts in the Mississippi River
in the 19th century. It ate away at St. Philippe, and the village and its archeological resources were lost to the river.
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
explorer and favorite courtier
Courtier
A courtier is a person who is often in attendance at the court of a king or other royal personage. Historically the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together...
of King Louis XV, left his native Picardy
Picardy
This article is about the historical French province. For other uses, see Picardy .Picardy is a historical province of France, in the north of France...
in 1719 for the Illinois Country
Illinois Country
The Illinois Country , also known as Upper Louisiana, was a region in what is now the Midwestern United States that was explored and settled by the French during the 17th and 18th centuries. The terms referred to the entire Upper Mississippi River watershed, though settlement was concentrated in...
. He was to lead efforts to develop mining in the Illinois Country
Illinois Country
The Illinois Country , also known as Upper Louisiana, was a region in what is now the Midwestern United States that was explored and settled by the French during the 17th and 18th centuries. The terms referred to the entire Upper Mississippi River watershed, though settlement was concentrated in...
. He was more successful with his concession of land fronting the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
on which he founded St. Philippe, an agricultural community. It was quickly exporting surpluses to French settlements in lower Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, as well as ones on the mid-Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
which were less successful than those of Illinois.
Career
Renault had been appointed by the Company of the WestMississippi Company
The "Mississippi Company" became the "Company of the West" and expanded as the "Company of the Indies" .-The Banque Royale:...
which acquired the French East India Company and became the Company of the Indies, also in 1719. The Company was formed by the French for the exploitation of their American possessions. Along the way, he purchased 200 African slaves
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
in Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, for use in the mines he expected to develop. These men were the first enslaved Africans brought to Illinois or Missouri.
In 1723 Renault was granted “in freehold, in order to make his establishment upon the mines” of a tract of land a league and a half in a width by six in depth on the “Little Marameig
Big River (Missouri)
The Big River is a tributary of the Meramec River in east-central Missouri. The river rises in western Iron County, near the summit of Johnson Mountain and the locale of Enough; it flows through Washington County, Saint Francois County, and Jefferson County...
” in Upper Louisiana (Missouri); another tract of two leagues “at the mine called the mine of Lamothe
Mine La Motte, Missouri
Mine La Motte is an unincorporated community in Madison County, Missouri, United States. It is located about six miles north of Fredericktown. Europeans discovered lead here, and Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac brought several hundred workers, including slaves from Santo Domingo, to develop mines in...
;” another of one league in front of Pimeteau on the river Illinois; and “one league fronting on the Mississippi, at the place called the Great Marsh, adjoining on one side to the Illinois Indians, settled near Fort de Chartres
Fort de Chartres
Fort de Chartres was a French fortification first built in 1720 on the east bank of the Mississippi River in present-day Illinois. The Fort de Chartres name was also applied to the two successive fortifications built nearby during the 18th century in the era of French colonial control over...
, with a depth of two leagues, this place being the situation which has been granted to him for the raising of provisions, and to enable him to furnish then to all the settlements he shall make upon the mines.” Upon the latter grant in Illinois Country, Renault expected to grow the food for his mining operations in the rich, black soil of what would become known as the American Bottom
American Bottom
The American Bottom is the flood plain of the Mississippi River in the Metro-East region of Southern Illinois, extending from Alton, Illinois, to the Kaskaskia River. It is also sometimes called "American Bottoms". The area is about , mostly protected from flooding by a levee and drainage canal...
.
He founded a settlement, St Philippe, in the southern part of present day Monroe County, Illinois
Monroe County, Illinois
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 32,957, which is an increase of 19.3% from 27,619 in 2000. Its county seat is Waterloo...
, about three miles north along the river from Fort de Chartres
Fort de Chartres
Fort de Chartres was a French fortification first built in 1720 on the east bank of the Mississippi River in present-day Illinois. The Fort de Chartres name was also applied to the two successive fortifications built nearby during the 18th century in the era of French colonial control over...
. Agriculture was the most successful of his enterprises. The community of St. Philippe quickly produced a surplus which it sold to settlers downriver in New Orleans, as well as at other French settlements, such as Arkansas Post, less successful in farming.
Renault's efforts in Illinois to locate exploitable metals were largely futile; in Missouri he fared slightly better, and he is credited with operating the first viable lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
mines in Missouri's Lead Belt
Lead Belt
The Southeast Missouri Lead District, commonly called the Lead Belt, is a lead mining district in the southeastern part of Missouri. Counties in the Lead Belt include Saint Francois; Crawford; Dent; Iron; Madison: Reynolds; and Washington...
at La Vieille Mine (Old Mines
Old Mines, Missouri
Old Mines is the name of both an unincorporated community and the surrounding area in southeast Missouri that were settled by French colonists who mined for lead from the early 18th century when the area was a part of the Illinois Country of New France...
). He returned to France in 1749, passing his interests in the area on to others. He died intestate and without heirs. In the early and late 19th century, attempts by persons' claiming to represent his estate to reclaim lands he was granted, did not meet with success.
By the late 19th century, the descendants of Renault's brothers Armand and Jacques, both of whom had emigrated to the East Coast of the U.S., had changed the spelling of their name to Reno, an anglicization of the sound. In 1888 the Reno Association, comprising 400 descendants mostly in New York and Pennsylvania, tried to claim the earlier holdings to Renault, without success. By then his former lands in Illinois and Missouri were estimated to be worth $40,000,000.
Deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
of river banks caused by crews' cutting trees to fuel steamboats led to increased flooding and channel shifts in the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
in the 19th century. It ate away at St. Philippe, and the village and its archeological resources were lost to the river.