Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre
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Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre (October 24, 1701 – September 8, 1755) traced his lineage to a number of New France's prominent families. Most immediately however, his father Jean-Paul was an adventurer and had founded a post at Chagouamigon in Wisconsin. It is believed that Jacques spent a number of years there with his father where he obtained an excellent knowledge of the Indian languages and the business conducted in the trading posts.
In 1724 he began military service as a second ensign with the colonial regular troops. Because of his skills as an interpreter, his early active duty involved building loyalty and support among the Ojibwa, Cree, and Sioux to assist the French in future campaigns against other Indian tribes. From 1734 to 1737, he was commandant at Fort Beauharnois (on Lake Pepin, Wis.-Minn.) and caught in the middle of tribal rivalries. Fearing for himself and his garrison, he abandoned and burned the fort in May, 1737.
From 1737 to 1740 he campaigned against the Chickasaws and drew praise for his skills in dealing with the Indians. In 1741 he made lieutenant and was commandant of the Miami post near Fort Wayne, Indiana for a short while. From 1745–47 he was stationed at Montreal and carried out many military assignments. In 1747 he and Louis de la Corne fought the British and their Indian allies in the Lachine area.
From 1748-50 he served at Michilimackinac during which time he was promoted to captain. The whole period was spent negotiating a fragile peace between the warring Indian nations. In 1750 Governor La Jonquière appointed him Western commander to lead in the search for the western sea, a project that had been headed by Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye who had died in 1749 while planning a new expedition. He was soon involved in a dispute with two of the La Vérendrye sons, (Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye and Pierre Gaultier de La Vérendrye), who had been actively involved in this project with their father. To his credit, Saint-Pierre recognized their past role and apologized. During his tenure, he was quite active. He travelled several times to the area of the Red and Winnipeg rivers and Fort St. Charles on Lake of the Woods. He no doubt headquartered at Fort La Reine. At least one important post was established under his command; that being Fort Le Jonquière on the Saskatchewan River. (probably in the Nipawin, Sask., area). The western sea explorations were not expanded much beyond that point.
Returning from the western forts in 1753, Legardeur was assigned to the area of present day Ohio where the French were building a strong presence. Paul Marin de la Malgue constructed two forts, the main one being Fort de la Rivière au Bœuf (Waterford, Pa.). After Marin's death, Legardeur took command of that fort. The French occupation drew attention from the Virginia colony. A young George Washington was sent to tell the French to leave. Much has been made of this event because of the messenger. History records that Washington was impressed by Saint-Pierre in this encounter. An encounter in 1754 at Fort Necessity had Washington defeated, captured, and released by the French.
In 1755 Jacques led a large contingent of Militia and Indians from Montreal into a battle at Lac du Saint-Sacrement and was immediately killed. His service to France in North America was valuable and extensive. He was a logical successor to La Vérendrye in the western forts and fur trade. He was awarded the cross of Saint Louis for his endeavours in military action. He was married but had no children. His widow remarried in 1757, to Luc de la Corne.
