Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye
Collection
Identifier: SC 1142
Scope and Contents
This collection contains correspondence about the translation of La Verendrye’s journal, an article by William Douglas on Fort Maurepas, which was the first fort on the Red River; it also includes articles from the MPLS journal in 1936, and other news articles relating to La Verendrye’s time in North Dakota.
Dates
- Majority of material found within 1930s-1950s
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection is held by the NDSU Archives
Biography
Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye was born in Trois-Rivières on November 17, 1685. He was the youngest child of René Gaultier de Varennes and Marie Boucher. The Gaultier family were of minor nobility from the Anjou area of France. When Pierre was 6, his father died. His education was through the Jesuit seminary in Quebec. When he was just twelve years old, he received a cadet’s commission in toe the French Marines in Canada. His earliest military career started in 1704 when he took part in raids during the Queen Anne’s War.
At the age of 22, Pierre enlisted into the French army and fought in the War of Spanish Succession where he was wounded during the battle of Malplaquet. After recovering and being paroled as a prisoner of war, he returned to Canada where he married in 1712. For the next fifteen years, Pierre spent time farming and fur trading along the Saint Lawrence river in Canada.
In 1726, Pierre’s brother Jacques-René was appointed commander of the “poste du Nord” (or North Post). This post was covered the area along the north shore of Lake Superior. This connection allowed Pierre to begin trapping and trading in the area. These connections to both his brother and the area allowed him, in 1728 to be appointed commandant when his brother left.
By 1730 Pierre met with government officials and worked to build a post on Lake Winnipeg. Through his work there, he eventually picked the Missouri river to a mission to find more trading areas in Canada. By October 1738 he had reached Lake Manitoba and pushed into what is now New Town, North Dakota near the Montana border. This exploration into North Dakota makes him the first European to explore the area. By then, several issues concerning indigenous tribes arose and he returned to Fort La Reine in January of 1739. Pierre and his son Louis-Joseph continued to explore the west including as far south as the Big Horn mountains in Wyoming. He established several forts in the Manitoba province, however, his boss, the Count of Maurepas, was becoming frustrated with him. So, in 1743, La Verendrye resigned, returning to New France and led a life of a gentleman while his sons did his main trading for him. In 1746, he was again appointed back to his old post and in planning for his fifth expedition, he died on December 5, 1749.
At the age of 22, Pierre enlisted into the French army and fought in the War of Spanish Succession where he was wounded during the battle of Malplaquet. After recovering and being paroled as a prisoner of war, he returned to Canada where he married in 1712. For the next fifteen years, Pierre spent time farming and fur trading along the Saint Lawrence river in Canada.
In 1726, Pierre’s brother Jacques-René was appointed commander of the “poste du Nord” (or North Post). This post was covered the area along the north shore of Lake Superior. This connection allowed Pierre to begin trapping and trading in the area. These connections to both his brother and the area allowed him, in 1728 to be appointed commandant when his brother left.
By 1730 Pierre met with government officials and worked to build a post on Lake Winnipeg. Through his work there, he eventually picked the Missouri river to a mission to find more trading areas in Canada. By October 1738 he had reached Lake Manitoba and pushed into what is now New Town, North Dakota near the Montana border. This exploration into North Dakota makes him the first European to explore the area. By then, several issues concerning indigenous tribes arose and he returned to Fort La Reine in January of 1739. Pierre and his son Louis-Joseph continued to explore the west including as far south as the Big Horn mountains in Wyoming. He established several forts in the Manitoba province, however, his boss, the Count of Maurepas, was becoming frustrated with him. So, in 1743, La Verendrye resigned, returning to New France and led a life of a gentleman while his sons did his main trading for him. In 1746, he was again appointed back to his old post and in planning for his fifth expedition, he died on December 5, 1749.
Extent
4 Items (Contains newspaper articles, correspondence, and a typed paper.)
Language of Materials
English
Overview
This collection contains correspondence about the translation of La Verendrye’s journal, an article by William Douglas on Fort Maurepas, which was the first fort on the Red River; it also includes articles from the MPLS journal in 1936, and other news articles relating to La Verendrye’s time in North Dakota.
Provenance
Donated by Roy Johnson on August21, 1957 (Acc. 1142)
Property Rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye Collection
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu