Louis Jolliet by: Zacharie, Sheridan and Pauline.

Who The full name of the person was Louis Jolliet. He was born in 1645 in a French settlement near Quebec. He died in c in Quebec. When he was six years old, his father died. He was a good student who attended a Jesuit school. He studied writing, mathematics, and Latin. He enjoyed drawing and making maps. He had two brothers: Adrien and Zacharie who were successful fur traders at Three Rivers. He had a stepfather. He was a successful merchant. His stepfather owned land on Ile d’Orleans an island in the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec.

What In 1669 the French lieutenant governor, Jean Baptiste Talon, asked Jolliet’s brother Adrien to search for copper near Lake Superior. Adrien did not find any copper and while sailing him, he vanished. After his brother’s disappearance, he traveled West and continued fur trading near the mission at Sault Sainte Marie. He was cartographer, king’s hydrographer, teacher at the Jesuit college at Quebec, organist, business man, and seigneur. In 1672, Jean Baptiste Talon, the French lieutenant governor, choose him to lead an expedition to search for the Mississippi River. Talon told him to go to the mission at St. Ignace would join the expedition as a missionary. In 1672, he was chosen by the two highest officials in New France to lead an expedition to find the Mississippi River.

When In 1672 Jean Baptiste Talon chose Jolliet to lead an expedition on the Mississippi River and on May 1673 Father Marquette, Jolliet, and five other men went to this expedition. In December,1672 he reached the straits of Mackinaw. On June17, 1673 they left Wisconsin River and reached Mississippi River. On June 25, 1673 they met people who lived there called the Illinois tribe. On July 17, 1673 they decided to return. He also explored Sault Ste. Marie. He lost all his documents and maps because the canoes fell in 1674.

Where In he explored a lot of the Great Lakes Region during that time he became a great map maker. He also worked as a fur trader. In 1672 he was mane leader of a trip to explore the northern part of the Mississippi River with Marquette. Later he explored other parts of Canada, such as Labrador and Hudson bay. In 1979 he explored Lake Michigan, the Fox River and Winsconson. He explored Northern MI. In 1696, April 30 Louis Jolliet was granted the seigniory (Territory) of Jolliet, South of Quebec which is still in the possession of his descendants.

Why European explorers were looking for a water route through North America that led to China to trade for silk, spices and copper. They thought that the Mississippi River might be the one, so Jolliet was chosen to lead an expedition to search on the Mississippi River. He would joined Father Jacques Marquette for these expedition. He did not find spices and silk. He brings back instead maps he had drawn during his long journey. He did not find his brother because he vanished. Instead he found several Native Americans tribes. With then he found large herds of buffalo on the shores of the river. Louis Joliet map of North America, 1674 Louis Joliet Map of North America, 1674

How On June 7, 1763 they asked Father Marquette and Jolliet to smoke a calumet or a peace pipe with the Maskouten Chiefs as a sign of peace. Two Maskouten men agreed to guide the expedition to the Wisconsin river. Father Marquette and Jolliet spoke several native American languages. The Illinois tribe, welcomed the French Explorers. In July, they met unfriendly Native Americans but they saw the calumet and welcomed them. Louis Jolliet stored his life as a fur trader he lived with Native Americans and spoke languages. He traded with them for beaver furs. He did not convert them but Father Marquette did.