Medard CHOUART DES GROSEILLIERS
Biography



Medard Chouart des Groseilliers (1618-1696) and Pierre-Esprit Radisson (1640-1710) were quick in making their mark as explorers. Des Groseilliers arrived in the colony around 1641 and went to Huronia with the Jesuit mission. Radisson landed in New France at an early age and settled in Trois-Rivieres. As a teenager, he was taken prisoner by the Iroquois, who adopted him and taught him their language. After he escaped, Radisson linked up with des Groseilliers, his brother-in-law.

For a year (1659-1660), at a time when tensions with the Iroquois were acute, the two men undertook a great journey of exploration that brought them to the western edge of Lake Superior. They brought back a magnificent shipment of furs from their expedition. On their return, they expected to be congratulated and rewarded. Instead, the governor imposed a fine on them and had their convoy seized. The king's representative accused them of conducting this trip without his permission. The two men were so outraged that they offered their services to the English and founded a company, the Hudson's Bay Company. From 1670 to 1675, they ran trading posts in the heart of the Hudson Bay region. Their business thrived. They also developed an excellent knowledge of this northern area.

With this expertise, they decided in 1675 to return to France and serve their country again. But Colbert mistrusted them, as did Governor Frontenac of New France, who refused to back development of a new French company. In response, des Groseilliers left the trade and Radisson went back to England. He easily took back the Hudson's Bay Company posts lost to the French. In 1687, he was even naturalized as an Englishman. Radisson and des Groseilliers - coureurs de bois (literally, "runners of the woods:), explorers, and adventurers - owed much of their fortune to their knowledge of Aboriginal cultures. They enabled England to establish a northern foothold; the encirclement effect this created was a great source of worry to the authorities in New France until 1713.

History of Quebec for Dummies by Eric Bedard, published by John Wiley & Sons, Canada, Ltd.

Learn more about the life of immigrant flag male ancestor  Medard CHOUART DES GROSEILLIERS.

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