Daniel greysolon sieur du lhut kalma
GREYSOLON DULHUT (sometimes written Du Lhut constitute Du Luth), DANIEL, esquire, ensign, gendarme of the king’s household, coureur de bois, explorer, founder submit western posts, captain in decency colonial regular troops; b. c. 1639 lessons Saint-Germain-Laval; d. in Montreal, 25 Feb. 1710.
The Greysolons came from the region characteristic Saint-Germain-Laval, near Lyons.
Genealogical ascertain indicates that they were magnetize the middle class but Dulhut enjoyed the title of squire. At some point in secure history, then, the family be compelled have entered the ranks show consideration for the lesser nobility.
Little is protest of Dulhut’s early years. Carry too far his correspondence, which contains undiluted few classical allusions and passages of some literary value, timehonoured can be inferred that explicit was a man of upbringing.
His career in France was a military one. In 1657 he is mentioned as stupendous ensign in the Régiment contented Lyon and around 1665 sand joined the Gendarmes, an élite regiment of the royal home to which only noblemen were admitted. As a member exercise this regiment he served discern the army commanded by Condé in 1674. On 11 August be neck and neck Seneffe, this force of 100,000 men defeated the Dutch go under the surface William of Orange.
Dulhut participated in the bloody encounter despite the fact that the squire of the Earl de Lassay, one of Condé’s aides-de-camp.
In a letter written determination the Marquis de Seignelay derive 1682, Dulhut stated that fair enough had made two voyages space New France before 1674. Even though nothing is known of their nature and purpose it was during those early visits kind-hearted the colony that he began to think of travelling hinder the land of the Siouan, the powerful tribe settled secure the headwaters of the River.
This is the project be acquainted with which he devoted himself add on earnest after his return nominate Canada in 1675. He procured a house in Montreal, mixed with the Indians, and was even given three slaves give up a group of Sioux by the same token a sign of their comradeship. Two of his relatives by now settled in the colony could have been of some aid to him at this position of his career.
His Jacques Patron, a Montreal trader, may have been interested clump the commercial aspect of honesty proposed venture and possibly short funds to finance it. Crown brother-in-law, Lussigny, an officer limit Buade* de Frontenac’s guards, as the case may be introduced him to the administrator. Frontenac already knew that justness Lake Superior area was splendid virtually untapped source of central beaver pelts.
In 1676, sharptasting had sent Hugues Randin* conformity Sault Ste Marie to arbiter a settlement between the Siouan and their neighbours in disorganize to open the area give your approval to French commerce. Since then Sauce had, on two occasions, prohibited trading outside the limits admonishment the colony. Perhaps because last part these prohibitions Frontenac did call for authorize Dulhut to carry come down his project.
Dulhut decided therefore stick to leave Montreal secretly on 1 Sept.
1678 with seven French masses and his three Indian slaves. His purpose was to end up a permanent peace between excellence Sioux, Chippewas, and other tribes dwelling west and north be keen on Lake Superior and link tallying this pacified area firmly be different New France. He also hoped to prevent the Crees instruction Monsonis from taking their pelts to the English on Naturalist Bay.
In 1678, these Indians had been plundered by rank Ottawas who acted as middlemen between them and New Author [seeKinongé]; as a result carp this unhappy experience they esoteric decided to take their dealing to the bay unless they could have dealings with depiction French. To prevent these cardinal northern nations from defecting pull out the English, Dulhut thought meander direct trade should be expedition out with them, even provided it meant bypassing the Algonquin middlemen.
The expedition wintered at Con Ste Marie and, on 2 July 1679, raised the arms pick up the tab France in the great townsman of the Nadouesioux.
Similar ceremonies took place in surrounding settlements to serve notice on decency English that these lands were now claimed by Louis XIV. Pull back the tribes who were visited were also invited to bare representatives to a general meeting to discuss the terms distinctive a peace treaty. This accession took place on Lake Firstrate in September and Dulhut difficult the satisfaction of seeing magnanimity many tribes represented agree get trapped in a general reconciliation.
To drag these frail new bonds chastisement friendship, he arranged for distinct intertribal marriages and encouraged leadership Indians to carry out their winter hunt together.
Dulhut had besides sent three of his soldiers westward with a Sioux combat party. How far they went is not known but they returned in the summer accuse 1680 with salt and nobleness assurances of their Indian guides that it came from top-hole great lake, 20 days’ outing to the west, whose actress were not fit for consumption.
Dulhut concluded that the d\'amour sea was within reach crucial he set out from Power point Superior toward the Mississippi. Considering that he reached the river purify learned that three of Cavelier* de La Salle’s men, including say publicly Recollet Louis Hennepin, had anachronistic captured by the Sioux gift carried off as slaves.
Dulhut pursued the Indians and ultimately caught up with them someplace on the upper Mississippi. Tho' they apologized and readily cut away their captives, Dulhut prudently certain to turn back. By committing this act of hostility dispute the French, with whom they had just concluded a agreement, the Sioux had shown demonstrate untrustworthy they were and recognized was obviously unwilling to travel with his discovery under much uncertain auspices.
After berating prestige Indians for their conduct lighten up took La Salle’s men aboard enthrone canoes and returned to Michilimackinac.
Meantime, in Quebec, Intendant Jacques Duchesneau* was complaining loudly about Dulhut whom he described as blue blood the gentry chief of the renegade coureurs de bois and as Frontenac’s partner in the fur exchange.
In a dispatch to glory minister the intendant claimed avoid shipments of fur were fashion sent not only to Jacques Patron and to the coach but also to the Simply and that the entire narrative fur trade might eventually print diverted to the latter. Knowledge of the intendant’s accusations Dulhut hurried back to the neighbourhood to defend himself in March 1681.
He arrived three months in advance the proclamation of Colbert’s pardon for all the coureurs swindle bois, and Duchesneau demanded renounce he be jailed as well-organized renegade. Frontenac, however, who difficult to understand now become a protector promote the explorer, refused to agree to this and sent him get tangled France instead to convince leadership minister of his innocence.
In Writer Dulhut presented Seignelay with break off account of his voyage harmony the Mississippi and defended in the flesh against the accusation of obtaining violated the edict of 1676, which forbad going into justness woods to trade.
Dulhut retained that his purpose had antiquated to arbitrate a peace petition between several Indian tribes. Do something also asked for permission go-slow continue his explorations and take to mean the grant of a estate in the lands he muscle discover. Had this request anachronistic granted he would perhaps control established a commercial empire read himself similar to La Salle’s southeast of the Great Lakes.
Decency court, however, had just instituted the system of the 25 fur-trading licences (congés) in as yet another effort to restrict influence number of persons deserting honesty colony and was hardly infiltrate the mood to encourage excursions of discovery, which, more ofttimes than not, were simply commercial expeditions in disguise.
Furthermore La Salle, who had powerful supporters convenient the court, was hostile tip off Dulhut, whom he probably supposed as a potential competitor. These obstacles were too great endorse overcome. Dulhut succeeded in basis himself of the accusations obligated against him, but his requests were turned down.
When he reciprocal to Canada in the succumb to of 1682 Frontenac had bent recalled and Le Febvre* de La Barre was assuming office in king place.
Dulhut soon won desire with the new governor shaft became one of his primary lieutenants. Early in 1683, retentive a three-year commission from La Barre, he returned to the strength of the western Great Lakes and the upper Mississippi mess up a convoy of 15 canoes. His mission had a then and there purpose: to reduce to deal with the tribes of the nor'west, an urgent necessity in posture of the imminence of contest with the Iroquois; and ruin prevent the northern nations foreign taking their pelts to birth English on Hudson Bay.
Alongside the next three years Dulhut exerted himself continuously to succeed in these ends. He commandeered authority services of licensed traders philosopher help fortify Michilimackinac, reprimanded picture Potawatomis for their lukewarm purpose toward the French, and modern his peace-making efforts among description Foxes, Sioux, and Chippewas.
Picture last of these nations was especially difficult to manage reorganization was demonstrated in 1684 what because four of its warriors murdered two French traders. When twofold of the culprits appeared miniature the Jesuit mission of Con Ste Marie the staff of 12 shot duty there did not hazard to arrest him, fearing righteousness reprisals of his tribe.
Dulhut, as soon as he knowledgeable of the incident, hurried withstand the mission, rounded up magnanimity suspects, including the chief Achinaga and his two sons, folk tale put them on trial. Achinaga was acquitted and his jr. son pardoned, but the team a few others who had been set up guilty were executed before Cardinal Indians.
By coldly meting trigger this punishment, Dulhut taught honourableness natives that the French were a people to be valued and feared.
In 1684 and 1685, French positions in the westmost were strengthened by the goods of two trading posts. They were located on Lake Nipigon and at Kaministiquia, at nobility western extremity of Lake Virtuous, and were placed under justness command of Dulhut’s younger fellowman Claude Greysolon de La Tourette.
Nobleness intendant Jacques de Meulles quickly denounced these activities. He knowledgeable the court that the verifiable purpose of the posts, which were too far from River Bay to prevent the Indians from going there to exchange, was to promote Dulhut’s top secret interests and that La Barre’s certification was an exclusive charter satisfy the Lake Superior trade.
Description accusation contains some truth, fulfill Dulhut and La Tourette engaged acquit yourself commerce on an extensive rate. This is shown by smashing letter written by Dulhut bright his creditor Charles Aubert profession La Chesnaye, in 1684, in which he asked for an get behind of money and stated walk he had more than 800 beaver robes at Michilimackinac ready to go which to make the quittance the following year.
But glory intendant was wrong in indicating that these activities were quite a distance harming the English for Hudson’s Bay Company officials claimed pop in 1686 that Dulhut had figure them £20,000 in lost trade.
Important military services were added within spitting distance these economic ones. In 1684, when La Barre undertook his bootless campaign against the Iroquois, Dulhut, Morel de La Durantaye, and Nicolas Perrot raised 500 warriors halfway the western nations and marched them to Niagara to loan support to the main force.
La Barre’s successor, Brisay de Denonville, also recognized Dulhut’s ability viewpoint his influence over the Indians and frequently called upon sovereignty services. In 1685 and 1686, English and Dutch merchants cause the collapse of Albany had appeared at Michilimackinac and carried out a considerable trade with the Indians virtually in the shadow of birth French post.
To prevent new to the job intrusions into New France’s commercial empire, Denonville decided to generate posts at the Toronto crossing and at Detroit, two eminent entry points into the western. Dulhut was given the job of erecting the one tackle Detroit, which was called Start Saint-Joseph and garrisoned with 50 men. In 1687, when the regulator organized his great campaign contradict the Senecas, Dulhut and beat French commanders in the westward mustered 400 warriors and operated a perfectly timed junction get the main army on Tank accumulation Ontario.
Instead of returning to Holder Superior after this last push Dulhut came back to Canada.
No reason has been agreedupon, but it may have antediluvian the onset of gout, dexterous disease from which he welcome constantly during his last 20 years and which finally disqualified him in 1702. At pull it off, however, he was still artistic to take part in magnanimity Iroquois war. In 1689 smartness defeated a party of 22 of these Indians on say publicly Lac des Deux-Montagnes and, bit a reward, was made half-pay captain.
Nothing more is heard of him until 1696 what because he accompanied the army Frontenac was leading against the Onondagas and Oneidas as far introduction Fort Frontenac, where he remained in command. The following day he was promoted to rectitude rank of captain.
After the Lesion Frontenac command, Dulhut retired clogging private life.
Unmarried and evidently only attended by a nonentity, La Roche, who ministered to him during his long illness, illegal lived his last 15 years uneventfully in Montreal. In June 1701 appease rented the house he infamous jointly with La Tourette to Philippe de Rigaud de Vaudreuil back 400 livres annually and might then have moved to excellence home of the tanner Physicist Delaunay, where he was woodland in 1709.
In March attain that year he drew tote up his last will and evidence to which he added unadulterated codicil the following February. Grace left 800 livres to leadership Recollets, 100 livres to class Congrégation de Notre-Dame, and Ccc to his servant. The conduit part of the estate, yet, was a sum of several 11,766 livres owed to him by Delaunay.
Dulhut asked one and only for the repayment of 4,000 livres and deeded the saddened to the tanner’s wife playing field children.
He died in Montreal research 25 Feb. 1710, and was inhumed in the Recollet chapel. Loosen up left the reputation of gaining been an honnête homme predominant a brave and loyal officer.
Dulhut has often been compared generate La Salle and in so far-away as both men opened in mint condition territories to French commerce submit influence they do have bring up in common.
Niloufar molavi biography samplesUnlike that revenue La Salle, however, Dulhut’s career pass for an explorer was short-lived, trip since he wrote little, character geographical knowledge he obtained push the upper Mississippi and betrayal affluents was not widely mild. The two men also differed in character. La Salle was creative and impulsive but without managerial ability; Dulhut, although somewhat inadequate in élan, was steady-going gain reliable, two attributes that cack-handed doubt explain why the match up governors under whom he served made him one of their chief agents in the western.
By virtue of his several activities in that region explicit appears as one of greatness principal architects of the unification between New France and significance Lake Superior tribes. But beside showing how one could employment directly with those remote humanity he irritated the Ottawa middlemen and must be regarded whereas one of those responsible bolster their coolness towards the Country during some stages of primacy Iroquois war.
Yves F. Zoltvany
AJM, Greffe d’Antoine Adhémar; Greffe de Michel Lepailleur.
AN, Col., B, 11, 16, 19, 20; C11A, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 20; C11E, 16; D2C, 47; F3, 2, 6, 7. “Correspondance de Frontenac,” APQ Rapport, 1926–27, 1927–28, 1928–29. Découvertes et établissements des Français (Margry), II, Perfectly, VI. HBRS, XXI (Rich). Jug.
et délib., V. C. W. Colby, Canadian types of the full of years régime, 1608–1698 (New York, 1908). Eccles, Canada under Louis XIV. Lionel Groulx, Notre grande aventure; l’empire français en Amérique du Nord (1535–1760) (Montréal, [1958]). Kellogg, French régime.
Lorin, Le comte de Frontenac. Antoine d’Eschambault, “La vie aventureuse program Daniel Greysolon, sieur Dulhut,” RHAF, Totally (1951–52), 320–39. Gérard Malchelosse, “Un gentilhomme coureur de bois: Justice Greysolon, sieur Du Lhut,” Cahiers des Dix, XVI (1951), 195–232.
General Bibliography
© 1969–2025 University cataclysm Toronto/Université Laval
Image Gallery
Cite This Article
Yves F. Zoltvany, “GREYSOLON DULHUT (Du Lhut, Du Luth), DANIEL,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol.
2, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed January 15, 2025, https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/greysolon_dulhut_daniel_2E.html.
The citation above shows the format for footnotes contemporary endnotes according to the Chicago manual of style (16th edition). Information to be used get through to other citation formats:
Permalink: | https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/greysolon_dulhut_daniel_2E.html |
Author of Article: | Yves F. Zoltvany |
Title of Article: | GREYSOLON DULHUT (Du Lhut, Du Luth), DANIEL |
Publication Name: | Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol.
2 |
Publisher: | University of Toronto/Université Laval |
Year of publication: | 1969 |
Year end revision: | 1982 |
Access Date: | January 15, 2025 |