Pierre-Jean De Smet

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Pierre-Jean De Smet

Photograph of De Smet by Mathew Brady, circa 1860-1865.
Born January 30, 1801(1801-01-30) in Termonde, Belgium
Died May 23, 1873 (aged 72) in St. Louis, Missouri
Church Roman Catholic
Other names Pierre DeSmet, Peter DeSmet
Education White Marsh Novitiate (in present-day Bowie, Maryland)
Ordained September 23, 1827

Father Pierre-Jean De Smet, (30 January 1801 – 23 May 1873), also known as Pierre DeSmet and Peter DeSmet, a Roman Catholic priest and member of the Society of Jesus, was a Belgian, active in missionary work among the Native Americans of the Western United States in the mid-1800s.

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[edit] Early life

De Smet was born in Dendermonde, Belgium. He first came to America in 1821 to begin his novitiate at White Marsh, a Jesuit estate near Baltimore, Maryland (part of which exists today as Sacred Heart Church in Bowie). Later he moved to Florissant, Missouri, where he was ordained on Sept. 23, 1827. From 1824-1830, he learned about Indian customs and other useful information as a prefect at St. Regis Seminary.

From 1833-1837, he was in Belgium due to health problems.

When he returned, he was engaged as a recruiter of men, supplies, and money for the Missouri Province. His travels west allowed him to spend a large period of his life exploring and organizing missions. He was involved in extensive missionary work, especially among the Flatheads. He was sent by Bishop Joseph Rosati after several pleas from the Nez Perce and Flathead Indians to receive a 'Blackrobe' (the name by which the Catholic missionnaries were known, as they were wearing the traditional long black cassock).

[edit] 1845-1846 expedition

One of DeSmet's longest explorations began in August 1845. He started from Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho and crossed country into the Kootenay River valley. From there he followed the valley, eventually crossing over to the source of the Columbia River. He then traversed a portion of that valley, followed Sinclair Pass, recrossed the Kootenay and using White Man’s Pass reached the Bow River valley. He would have been near the site of present-day Canmore, Alberta. From there he headed north to Rocky Mountain House. By this time it was October and he fulfilled one of his goals; to meet with the Crees, Chippewas, and Blackfeet of the area. At the end of the month, De Smet traveled to the east to search for more Natives. He was fortunate to find his way back to Rocky Mountain House and was guided from there to Fort Edmonton where he spent the winter of 1845-1846.

The spring saw DeSmet's return trip carrying him to Jasper House and, with terrible suffering, reaching the Columbia River and Fort Vancouver. He returned to his mission at Sainte-Marie on the Bitterroot River and then returned to St. Louis. His time as a missionary in the Rockies was over.

[edit] Later years

In his remaining years, he was active in work regarding the missions he helped establish and fund. In 1868 he persuaded Sitting Bull to accept the subsequent Treaty of Fort Laramie.

He died in St. Louis, Missouri and is buried in nearby Florissant.

[edit] Namesakes

DeSmet, Idaho, DeSmet, Montana (an unincorporated place near the Missoula International Airport), and De Smet, South Dakota are named in honor of him, as is De Smet Jesuit High School in Creve Coeur, Missouri.

[edit] References

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[edit] External links