Radisson & Groseillier

Pierre-Esprit Radisson (left), and Medard des Groseilliers (right) were French explorers in the 1600s. Groseilliers and Radisson are brother in laws, because Radisson's sister married des Groseilliers.

Birth and Death

Although Radisson and des Groseilliers travelled together, they were not born in the same place. Radisson was born 1636, in the current day Quebec. He died in England, in 1710, when he was 74 years old. Groseilliers was born in 1618 in France. He died in 1696 in Trois-Riviers, when he was 78.

Years of Expedition

Des Groseilliers and Radisson started their travels on June 3rd, 1668, with the Nonsuch and the Englet. They departed from England for Hudson Bay. They finished in 1674, when La Compaagnie du Nord was created.

Technology

Radisson and des Groseilliers used some technology on their expeditions. One of the things they used was the cross-staff. The cross-staff was a T-shaped tool and was used by sailors to find how far north or south they were from the equator.

Another invention that was used was called the sextent, which was used to measure the height of stars and planets above the ocean, to determine where they are at sea.

A third invention that was used was a compass. It was used to tell if they are facing, north, south, east, or west, or in between.

Challenges

There were many challenges that Radisson and des Groseilliers faced. One challenge was harsh winters. This was a challenge because it would be hard to get around. Another challenge they faced were the wars. There was a war between the English and the French, and the war between the Huron and the Iroquois.

 

Maps/Routs

There were two main routes that des Groseilliers had taken, and met up with Radisson. The first expedition was from Montreal, to Ottawa, to Lake Huron, to Detroit, to Milwaukee, to Green bay, and to the top of Lake Huron. Then when they met up they started at the top of Lake Huron, went clockwise around Lake Superior, and back to where they started.

Opinion of Aboriginals

Des Groseilliers did not have an opinion on aboriginals, but Radisson did. Radisson disliked the Iroqois because when he was a teenager, they kidnapped him. Radisson also pitties the native people, and thinks he is superior to them. At the time, there were aboriginals in the fur trade, and Radisson and des Groseillires helped with the fur trade, there for, Radisson and des Groseilliers had something in common with the aboriginals.

Source of Finance

In England, King Charles the 2nd introduced Radisson and des Groseilliers to Prince Rupert, the Duke of Cumberland, and Earl of Holderness. These 3 people organized a group of sponsors called the Company of Adventures. This group was Radisson and des Groseilliers' source of finance.

Impact on Canada

Radisson and des Groseilliers had a huge positive impact all over Canada. They expanded the fur trade across Canada and established new trading routes. Although they had a positive impact, they also had a negative impact. They broke laws and got arrested for a short time, because they were fur trading without permission. Although this was not that bad of an impact, they did break the law. Did you know, that people who fur trade without permission are called Coureurs de Bois, which means runners of the woods.

Contribution to the Fur Trade

Radisson and des Groseilliers went on an expedition on foot and by canoe, to spread the Fur Trade across Canada. Des Groseilliers also joined a fur trade expedition with the Huron people, before he met Radisson. Des Groseilliers traveled south from Montreal to Lake Huron, and then west to lake Michigan.

Accomplishments

Out of Radisson and des Groseilliers' many accomplishments, one of them is that they constructed a fort called Charles Fort, but was renamed Rupert House, after their benefactor, Prince Rupert. This fort consisted of a house, a cellar for beer and meat, and a stockade for guns and ammunition. One of their main accomplishments, was that their discoveries led to the creation of the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC).