Pierre-Chrysologue Pambrun facts for kids

Pierre Chrysologue Pambrun (1792 – 1841) was a French Canadian officer and later a fur trader for the Hudson's Bay Company. He fought against the United States in the War of 1812, especially at the Battle of the Châteauguay. Pambrun joined the HBC when they had strong competition with the North West Company. After a conflict called the Battle of Seven Oaks, he was held captive by NWC employees.

When the NWC and HBC joined together in 1821, Pambrun was sent to the Pacific Northwest. He first worked in the New Caledonia District. In 1832, he took charge of Fort Nez Percés, an important trading post near the Walla Walla. Pambrun built good relationships with nearby Native nations like the Sahaptin through fair treatment and by joining their hunts. Fort Nez Percés also became a key stop for American travelers on the Oregon Trail. When missionaries Marcus Whitman and Henry H. Spalding arrived, Pambrun helped them pick Waiilatpu for their mission. Pambrun became the only French-Canadian to be promoted to Chief Trader in the Columbia Department. In 1841, he was badly hurt in a horse accident and died four days later.

Pierre Pambrun: A Fur Trader's Story

Early Adventures

Pambrun was born in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec, on December 17, 1792. During the War of 1812, he joined the Canadian Voltigeurs, a militia mostly made of Québécois. He became a sergeant by 1813. Pambrun fought in several small battles and was praised for capturing an American scouting group. He served under Jacques Viger at the Battle of the Châteauguay. After this battle, Pambrun was promoted to second lieutenant. However, his chances for further promotion ended when the Voltigeurs were disbanded in 1817.

Joining the Fur Trade

After leaving the militia, Pambrun started working for the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) in 1815. In the spring of that year, Colin Robertson led Pambrun and other employees into the Canadian interior. They heard news that the Red River Colony had been broken up due to conflicts with the North West Company (NWC). In July, they found twenty families from Red River living by Lake Winnipeg. These families agreed to go back to their homes with the HBC men.

Pambrun was then stationed in Pembina. He traveled with Governor Semple to visit other HBC posts. Company leaders were worried about the growing conflicts with their NWC rivals. In April 1816, Semple told Pambrun to go to the NWC Fort Qu'Appelle. He was told to "carefully avoid every act of hostility" unless the NWC started it.

Conflicts and Captivity

When Pambrun reached Fort Qu'Appelle in May, he found Métis men making "violent threats" against the Red River Colony. Soon after, he left with 22 HBC staff, led by James Sutherland. They were heading to the Red River Colony to bring supplies. On May 9, 1816, they were attacked by Cuthbert Grant and 49 NWC men. The HBC men were taken prisoner and held at Qu'Appelle. After five days, all the captives except Pambrun were released.

Later in May, Pambrun saw an NWC officer asking Native people to join their side. While Pambrun did not see the attack on Brandon House, he was nearby. He was then taken to see the NWC men looting the fort. Sixty miles from the Red River colony, a small fort was built to store the stolen HBC goods. Pambrun was held there while the NWC force marched on the colony. This led to the Battle of Seven Oaks.

After the battle, Pambrun was held prisoner for twelve days at Fort William. Lord Selkirk demanded his release. Pambrun became an important witness in the legal cases between the NWC and HBC. He spent most of 1817 in Montreal and 1818 in London for these cases. After the cases ended, Pambrun began working at different HBC posts in 1820. He worked as a clerk at Cumberland House, York Factory, and Fort Edmonton. In 1824, he was sent to the New Caledonia Department. Pambrun mainly worked at Fort Babine for the next six years. In March 1832, he was sent to his last trading post, Fort Nez Percés.

Leading Fort Nez Percés

Fort Nez Percés was a main HBC station between Fort Vancouver and Fort Hall. It was in an area where Walla Wallas lived, and Nez Perces and Cayuses often visited. The person in charge before Pambrun, Simon McGillivray, had caused problems and had to be moved. Pambrun was then chosen to lead the fort. He told the Native people that he "came to be their friend." He worked to build good relationships with the Walla Wallas, partly by joining their seasonal rabbit hunts.

Pambrun made sure the fort was well-managed. He removed any "drunken hangers-on or other undesirables." He also gave calendars to different tribal leaders so that only "one tribe present at one time" would visit the fort. This helped keep things peaceful. In 1831, George Simpson, a leader in the HBC, described Pambrun as "an active, steady, dapper little fellow."

Welcoming Travelers

Pambrun was known for his kindness to tired travelers crossing the continent into the Oregon Country. Jason Lee and four Methodist missionaries arrived at Fort Nez Percés on September 2, 1834. Lee reported that Pambrun "proffered me any provisions he had," giving them spare tents and meals. The Methodists traded their horses and cattle for supplies, with a promise to get new ones at Fort Vancouver.

After setting up the Methodist Mission, Lee returned to the United States in 1838. Pambrun's wife, Catherine, went with him to the Waiilatpu Mission. Catholic missionaries François Norbert Blanchet and Modeste Demers were also greeted by Pambrun in November 1838. He helped them arrange baptisms for his children and an official marriage. Thomas J. Farnham of the Peoria Party arrived at Pambrun's fort on October 1, 1839. He was given a meal and a tour of the fort.

Helping Missionaries Settle

Pambrun also worked with members of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM). Samuel Parker and Marcus Whitman were sent in 1835 to find good places for missions in the Oregon Country. Parker visited Fort Nez Percés on October 6, 1835. He received a meal with "great luxuries" like milk, bread, butter, and sugar. Pambrun also arranged for several Walla Wallas to escort Parker.

In 1836, Marcus Whitman returned with his wife, Narcissa Whitman, and the Spaldings. They arrived at the fort on September 1. The Whitmans stayed in one of the fort's towers. John Sutter, who was heading to Alta California, was also traveling with the missionaries. Pambrun served Sutter a "fat mare" (horse meat) when he left for Fort Vancouver. The mission carpenter, William Gray, said the meals were "a great change from dried and pounded buffalo meat." For dessert, Pambrun served large muskmelons he grew, one measuring 18 inches.

The Spaldings and their livestock reached Fort Nez Percés two days after the Whitmans. On September 6, the ABCFM members and Pambrun began a trip down to Fort Vancouver. Whitman, Pambrun, Spalding, and Gray spent October 4 and 5 looking for mission locations in the Walla Walla Valley. They chose Waiilatpu. Pambrun also arranged for two Hawaiians to help build the mission there.

In 1839, Pambrun was promoted to Chief Trader. He was the only French-Canadian in the Columbia Department to reach this rank. That same year, he became the godfather to one of Tawatoy's sons who was baptized Catholic.

His Final Years

In 1841, Pambrun was badly injured while riding a horse. He suffered for four days. Narcissa Whitman wrote that "He was only anxious to die that he might be relieved of pain." Shortly before he died, Pambrun tried to arrange a marriage between Cornelius Rogers and one of his daughters, but his daughter said no. Pambrun's body was later moved and buried in the Catholic Stella Maris Cemetery at Fort Vancouver on March 9, 1844. François Norbert Blanchet led the service, and important people like John McLoughlin and James Douglas attended.