Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye
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A map of the area of operations of the La Vérendrye family.
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| Born | November 9, 1717 |
| Died | November 15, 1761 (aged 44) |
| Nationality | New France |
| Occupation | Fur trader, explorer |
Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye (born November 9, 1717 – died November 15, 1761) was a French Canadian fur trader and explorer. He worked with his father, Pierre La Vérendrye, and his three brothers. They helped expand the fur trade and explore lands west of the Great Lakes.
Louis-Joseph, his brother, and two friends are believed to be the first Europeans to travel across the northern Great Plains. They may have even seen the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming.
Louis-Joseph was born in Quebec. In 1735, he joined his family's business. He left Montreal with his father and traveled west. They went to Fort St. Charles on Lake of the Woods. In 1736, he helped rebuild Fort Maurepas. He also helped build Fort La Reine in 1738.
Later that year, he and his father visited the Mandan Native Americans. They met them along the Missouri River in North Dakota. In 1739 and 1740, Louis-Joseph explored more. He traveled north from Fort La Reine. He explored Lake Winnipeg, Lake Manitoba, and Lake Winnipegosis. He also explored the Saskatchewan River up to the area of modern-day The Pas.
Exploring the Rocky Mountains
In 1743 and 1744, Louis-Joseph may have traveled southwest. This journey likely took him to what is now Wyoming. During this trip, he might have seen the Rocky Mountains. However, the records from that time are not very clear. It is possible that another Vérendrye brother made this journey instead.
Leading Western Posts
By late 1743, Louis-Joseph's father, Pierre La Vérendrye, had to step down. He was the commander of the western trading posts, known as the poste de l’Ouest. The new commander, Nicolas-Joseph de Noyelles de Fleurimont, kept Louis-Joseph and his brothers working. This was from 1744 onwards.
Louis-Joseph became a post commander himself at three different locations. The most important of these was Fort Kaministiquia.
His father, Pierre La Vérendrye, became the western commander again in 1747. Louis-Joseph returned to New France with Noyelles. He helped both Noyelles and Governor Beauharnois. He planned to return to the western posts with his father. However, his father came back east and died in 1749.
Louis-Joseph spent the next few years sorting out his father's money matters. After that, he started a new business with Luc de la Corne. They worked together in the fur trade. Louis-Joseph's brother, François, worked as an interpreter for their partnership.
Some people claim he reached the Saskatchewan River Forks in 1749. But this claim might not be true.
In 1756, Louis-Joseph was appointed commander of the poste de l’Ouest for three years. He managed this business through other people. This was because he was busy with military duties during the Seven Years' War. Charles-René Dejordy de Villebon took over as western commander in 1758.
After the British took over Quebec, Louis-Joseph was returning to France. Sadly, his ship, the Auguste, sank off Cape Breton. He died in this shipwreck in 1761.
See also
In Spanish: Louis-Joseph Gaultier de la Vérendrye para niños
