Jacques Marquette

This article covers the Jesuit and explorer. For the US cameraman, see Jacques R. Marquette (1915–1999).

Portrait on memorial stele in St. Ignace

Jacques Marquette preaches to the indigenous people

Jacques Marquette (born June 10, 1637 in Laon ( France ), † May 18, 1675 near what is now Ludington, Iroquois region , now Michigan , USA ) was a French Jesuit and explorer.

Early years

At the age of 17 he entered the Jesuit order as a novice , where he completed university studies and was assigned to the Jesuit mission in the French colony of New France , later "Canada", in 1666 . After his arrival, he first traveled inland to learn Indian languages .

In 1668 he left Québec for good to settle in the Sault Sainte Marie Mission in the Ottawa Indian area and to do missionary work there. Since the mission was at a favorable point between Lake Huron and Lake Superior , many Indians passing through came there and told Marquette about a river called the Missispi. In the fall of 1669, Marquette founded the "Pointe du Saint-Esprit" mission at the western end of Lake Superior, from which he wanted to reach the Ottawa Indians and the Wyandot . Here Marquette also met Indians of the Illinois tribe, who were familiar with part of the "Missispi". In preparation for a trip there, he began to learn their language. Probably in the summer of 1671, Marquette met the fur trader Louis Joliet in Sault Sainte-Marie . He was there on June 4, when Simon Daumont de Saint-Lusson officially took possession of the western territories for the French crown, while Marquette was ordained a priest at the same place on July 2. As a result, they pursued the exploration of the Mississippi River as a joint venture, which was delayed by a war among the Indians. While Joliet returned to Québec, Marquette settled on the island of Manitoulin in Lake Huron and founded the mission "Saint-Ignace" there in July 1671 (at today's St. Ignace ).

Exploring the Mississippi

Père Marquette , painting by Henry Farny, 1910

In 1673 Joliet and Marquette were able to begin their joint venture. The former had received an official assignment from the Crown to look for the Mississippi springs with the missionary. On May 17, the two set off from Saint-Ignace with five companions and two canoes. They crossed the Michillimakinac Strait and then touched what is now Green Bay on western Lake Michigan . They continued their journey west on the Fox River and on June 17th they were the first Europeans to reach the Mississippi. On the trip south they discovered the Missouri River and the Ohio River . They became convinced that the river would flow into the Pacific , and after a journey of 450 km on the Mississippi in what is now Arkansas, they decided to turn back so as not to fall into the hands of the Spaniards . The return journey began in mid-July. For Marquette, the discovery of the Mississippi was an important step in expanding the missionaries' influence to the west and south.

Late years

Grave, Saint-Ignace, Michigan

In October 1674 he left Green Bay to set up a mission among the Illinois Indians. He overwintered in what is now Chicago and on April 8, 1675 founded the mission for the "Immaculate Conception of the Holy Virgin" in an Indian village. On May 18, the missionary, exhausted from the previous exertions, died of amoebic dysentery at the age of 37 while traveling north "in the middle of the forest" near what is now Ludington (Michigan, USA) . A year later his bones were exhumed and buried in Saint-Ignace.

The Father Marquette National Memorial at his grave honors his life and work.

Web links

• The Virtual Museum of New France
• The Catholic Encyclopedia
• Discoverer Web: Joliet and Marquette
• Marquette statue in the United States Capitol (Washington DC)
• Marquette in the Musée canadien de l'histoire , detailed curriculum vitae, animated map of his expedition Fort St. Ignace -> Middle reaches of the Mississippi; optional English or French