"RENE-ROBERT CAVELIER DE LA SALLE AT CATARACOUI"- Kingston - Ontario Provincial Plaques on Waymarking.com

Biography

Youth:

René-Robert Cavelier was born on November 21, 1643, in Rouen, France. When Cavelier was younger he enjoyed science and nature. As a man, he studied with the Jesuit religious order and became a member after taking initial vows in 1660. At his request on March 27, 1667, after he was in Canada, he was released from the Society of Jesus after citing "moral weaknesses." Although he left the order, never took final vows in it, and later became hostile to it, historians sometimes described him incorrectly as a priest or a cleric.


Marriage and family

La Salle never married. He had an older brother named "Jean" who was a Sulpician priest.

Required to reject his father's legacy when he joined the Jesuits, La Salle was nearly destitute when he traveled as a prospective colonist to North America. He sailed for New France in the spring of 1666. His brother Jean, a Sulpician priest, had moved there the year before. La Salle was granted a seigneurie on land at the western end of the Island of Montreal, which became known as Lachine. (This was apparently from the French la Chine, meaning China. Some sources say the name referred to La Salle's desire to find a route to China, though the evidence for this claim is unclear and has been disputed).

La Salle immediately began to issue land grants, set up a village and learn the languages of the native peoples, mostly Mohawk in this area. The Mohawk told him of a great river, called the Ohio, which flowed into the Mississippi River. Thinking the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico, La Salle began to plan for expeditions to find a western passage to China. He sought and received permission from Governor Daniel Courcelle and Intendant Jean Talon to embark on the enterprise. He sold his interests in Lachine to finance the venture.

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Address or location of plaque: City Park, Ontario St., Kingston Ontario Physical location of plaque: City "Ontario Plaques" Website for this "Plaque": [Web Link] A web-site for more details.: [Web Link] Description of any physical remains at site of "Historical Plaque": None This 'Plaque' describes: A 'Person' Condition of sign: Excellent Is this a bilingual sign?: Yes ! What is the second/third language?: - French -

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