Mapping the upper reaches of the Mississippi River in 1673 fundamentally altered French geographical understanding of North America. Louis Jolliet, alongside Jesuit missionary Jacques Marquette, spearheaded an expedition that utilized canoes and indigenous knowledge to navigate interior waterways. This journey linked the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, marking a pivotal moment in seventeenth-century colonial expansion.
Early Development and Training
Born in 1645 in Beaupré, near Quebec City, Jolliet was the son of Jean Jolliet and Marie D'Abancourt. Following the death of his father, he was exposed to the vibrant fur trade environment of Quebec. During his youth, he attended a Jesuit seminary, focusing on religious studies and music; he developed proficiency as a harpsichordist and organist. Although he took Holy Orders in 1662, he ultimately pivoted toward commerce, leaving the priesthood in 1667 to engage in the fur trade.
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On May 17, 1673, Jolliet and Marquette departed St. Ignace, Michigan, with five companions. The party traversed the Fox River and completed a portage to the Wisconsin River before reaching the Mississippi on June 17. They followed the river south until they were confident it drained into the Gulf of Mexico. For the return leg, they navigated the Illinois and Des Plaines rivers, portaging at the Chicago River to reach Lake Michigan. While returning to Quebec, Jolliet’s canoe capsized, resulting in the loss of his official records and forcing him to reconstruct the journey from memory.
Administrative Duties and Later Surveys
Jolliet eventually secured government favor, receiving the Island of Anticosti from Louis XIV in 1680. He was appointed Royal Hydrographer in 1693 and granted a seigneury named Jolliest in 1697. Beyond his Mississippi travels, he documented the Labrador coast in 1694. This survey, spanning from the Strait of Belle Isle to Zoar, provided early records of the geography and the customs of the Inuit population.
Final Years
In May 1700, Jolliet departed for Anticosti Island. He vanished from the official historical record shortly thereafter. No burial site was ever identified, though records indicate that a commemorative Mass was held for his soul in Quebec on September 15, 1700. His legacy persists through numerous geographical locations in North America and his status as a Person of National Historic Significance.
Fast facts
- Born: 1645, Quebec City
- Died: 1700, St. Lawrence River
- Citizenship: Kingdom of France
- Primary Occupations: Explorer, fur trader
- Key Expedition: 1673 Mississippi River survey
- Languages known: French, English, Spanish
- Notable Award: Person of National Historic Significance
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of the 1673 expedition?
Jolliet and Marquette were the first non-Natives to map the upper Mississippi River, establishing its connection to the Gulf of Mexico.
What happened to the records of his major voyage?
Jolliet lost his original field journals when his canoe capsized in the Lachine Rapids on his return journey to Quebec.
Achievements
- Person of National Historic Significance
- Recorded as explorer and fur trader
