David de Launay facts for kids
David de Launay was a man from France who lived in St. Louis, a city in the United States. He is known for leading a group of Native American people on a long journey to France in the 1820s. This trip was an important event in the history of both the Osage Nation and France.
A Journey to France
In 1827, David de Launay began a special trip. He led a group of eleven men from the Osage Nation. A Native American woman named Sacred Sun also joined them. Their goal was to travel all the way to France.
The journey started with a challenge. As they left St. Louis, their raft crashed. They lost many valuable furs. Because of this, about half of the Osage decided to go back home. The others chose to continue the adventure.
Traveling to the Coast
The remaining Osage joined de Launay again. They traveled down the mighty Mississippi River. This river led them to the city of New Orleans. From there, they continued their journey to New England. This was a long and difficult part of their trip.
Finally, de Launay and his group boarded a ship. They sailed across the Atlantic Ocean. On July 27, 1827, they arrived in Le Havre, France. This was a major port city in France.
Meeting the King
When they first arrived in France, the Osage group was welcomed warmly. Many people were curious to see them. They even had the chance to meet King Charles X, who was the ruler of France at that time. This was a very exciting moment for everyone.
Challenges in France
After a while, the excitement faded. The local people in France became less interested in the Osage group. This made things very difficult for David de Launay. He struggled to find enough money to pay for food and places for the Osage to stay.
To try and earn money, de Launay started selling tickets. People could pay to see the Osage in their hotel rooms. He also asked them to perform shows. Despite these efforts, de Launay ran out of money. He could no longer provide for the Osage. He faced serious financial problems because he could not pay his bills. This meant the Osage had to find a way to take care of themselves in a foreign land.
