Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye
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Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye (November 9, 1717 – November 15, 1761), was a French Canadian fur trader and explorer who took part in extending these activities westerly from the Great Lakes during the eighteenth century, an enterprise for which he and other members of his family were largely responsible.
The youngest, but perhaps the most significant son of Pierre La Vérendrye, Louis-Joseph joined the family business in 1735, travelling west from his home with his father.
He assisted in re-establishing Fort Maurepas (Canada) in 1736 and building Fort La Reine in 1738. From Ft. La Reine, he and his father travelled to Mandan country later that same year. In 1739 and 1740, he went north from Fort La Reine and explored Lake Winnipeg, Lake Manitoba, Lake Winnipegosis and the Saskatchewan River as far as the area of the present day The Pas.
In 1742, he and his brother François, along with two other Frenchmen, returned to the west. They ascended the upper Missouri River as far as the Yellowstone River. On January 1, 1743, they saw the Rocky Mountains. Their return journey took them through present day Fort Pierre, South Dakota where they buried a lead plaque. (This plaque was unearthed in 1913 and is an important artifact of the exploration of the western prairies.)
By late 1743, the Pierre La Vérendrye was forced to resign as commandant of the poste de l’Ouest. The new commandant, Nicolas-Joseph de Noyelles de Fleurimont, retained the the services of La Vérendrye’s sons during his tenure, which began in 1744. Louis-Joseph was post commander at three posts, the most important one being Fort Kaministiquia.
The elder La Vérendrye again became western commandant in 1747, while Louis-Joseph returned to New France with Noyelles. He provided services to both Noyelles and Governor Beauharnois while expecting and intending to rejoin his father at the western posts. Before he made that return, his father returned east and died in 1749.
Louis-Joseph spent the next while settling his father's financial affairs, and subsequently entered into partnership with Luc de la Corne, in the fur trade. His brother François was an interpreter for the partnership.
In 1756, Louis-Joseph obtained a three-year appointment as commandant of the poste de l’Ouest. He carried out this enterprise through agents, as he was personally involved in military matters during the Seven Years' War. He was succeeded as western commander in 1758, by Charles-René Dejordy de Villebon.
He died while returning to France, when the Auguste sank at sea.
