Everything about Pierre-esprit Radisson totally explained
Pierre-Esprit Radisson (
1636 –
1710) was a
French-born explorer and mapper, whose exploration of 1668 led to the formation of the
Hudson's Bay Company.
He came to
New France as a teenager and was captured in an
Iroquois raid circa 1652, but was adopted by his captors and became accustomed to their way of life. Radisson escaped once but he was recaptured and tortured. After two years of living with the Iroquois he fled and returned to
Trois-Rivières in New France from where he journeyed to the fur-trading regions of
Lake Michigan and
Lake Superior with his brother-in-law
Médard des Groseilliers. However, as they didn't have a license to trade furs, the officials in New France confiscated their furs and fined them when they returned in
1660.
This voyage had however enabled them to discover the "salted sea",
Hudson Bay, of which the natives spoke. They sought to start a trade company but didn't receive any support from New-France. The two explorers left for
Boston to interest the authorities of
New England in this venture. They met English colonel George Cartwright there who took them along to England and submitted them to the court of
King Charles II.
In June 1668, they finally left England, sailing two merchant vessels chartered by
Prince Rupert, the
Eaglet and
Nonsuch, into Hudson Bay from the north. This new shorter route eliminated the need for passing by the
St. Lawrence River controlled by the French. Only the
Nonsuch arrived in the bay, with Des Groseilliers on board, because the
Eaglet, damaged in a storm, had to return to England with Radisson.
Fort Rupert was founded at the mouth of the
Rupert River. The mission was overall successful and in
1670 the English founded the
Hudson's Bay Company (HBC).
At the time of a voyage to London in 1674, Radisson and Des Groseilliers, dissatisfied of their treatment by the new company, were convinced by the Jesuit
Charles Albanel to return to France. However, they were coldly accepted by governor
Frontenac, and Radisson returned soon to France where he entered the Navy. In 1682 he took part in a campaign to reconquer Hudson Bay for France. Always frustrated by the French, who returned to the English a ship that he'd captured, he again entered in the service of the HBC in 1684 and carried out expeditions against the French in the bay. In particular he forced his nephew to return Fort Bourbon (the French name for
York Factory, Manitoba) to the HBC. From 1685 to 1687 he directed the trade at the nearby Fort Nelson, on the
Nelson River.
Becoming an English citizen in 1687, Radisson returned to England where he finished writing the accounts of his voyages. He retired on a small pension and dividends from the HBC and died in 1710 in poverty.
Cultural references
The towns
Radisson, Wisconsin,
Radisson, Quebec as well as a street and
Metro station in
Montreal and the
Radisson provincial electoral district in Manitoba are named after him.
The
Radisson Hotels group, starting with the Radisson hotel in Minneapolis in 1909, is also named after him.
The
Canadian Coast Guard also has a vessel named the
CCGS Pierre Radisson.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Pierre-esprit Radisson'.
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