Pierre-Esprit Radisson

by Fournier, Martin

• ISBN13: 9782894483282
• ISBN10: 2894483287
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-01-01
• Publisher: McGill Queens Univ

Summary

Pierre-Esprit Radisson, a French adventurer, came to New France in 1651 in search of opportunity. Captured by the Iroquois at sixteen, he survived torture, was adopted by the Mohawks, and lived among the natives for over a year learning their customs and languages. Once back in New France he led the adventurous life of a coureur de bois, becoming the partner of his brother-in-law, Médard Chouart Des Groseilliers. When French authorities rejected their plan to reach the rich fur territories of the Hudson's Bay area, they found ready backers and expertise for the expedition in England. Their first successful expedition of 1668-69 resulted in the founding of the Hudson's Bay Company. Historians have been critical of Radisson and Des Groseilliers' changes of allegiance but Martin Fournier shows that they loyally served their English business partners until the political turmoil of the Exclusion Crisis against the succession of the Catholic Duke of York, Radisson's patron, forced the two Frenchmen to leave England. Radisson then worked briefly for French interests before permanently establishing the Nelson River trading post for the Hudson's Bay Company in 1684. From 1687 until his death in 1710 he lived as a gentleman in London. In this accessible biography Martin Fournier makes use of Radisson's six travel narratives to provide an intimate portrait of this intriguing and complex figure. These narratives, too often neglected by historians, provide rich insight into Radisson's character as well as vivid accounts of his periods of captivity, guerilla expeditions, and trading ventures among the natives. Pierre-Esprit Radisson casts a new light on a remarkable figure who was as much at home in the North American wilderness as in the grandest salons of Europe.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION	13	(1)
Rediscovering Radisson	13	(4)
Reasons for a new biography	13	(1)
Radisson's narratives	14	(3)
CHAPTER 1 The First Voyage: Radisson Becomes an Iroquois	17	(28)
His birth and early years	17	(2)
New France during the 1650's	19	(1)
First capture and adoption	20	(4)
Renewal of a traditional society	24	(2)
The New Holland colony	26	(1)
The Dutch-Iroquois alliance and firearms	27	(5)
Life at Rensselaerwyck	29	(3)
Second capture and integration of Radisson	32	(8)
Torture	33	(3)
"Doe as they doe"	36	(4)
Second rupture at Fort Orange	40	(5)
CHAPTER 2 A Man and History	45	(8)
A few clarifications about Radisson's voyages and travel narratives	47	(2)
A sketch of the young Radisson	49	(4)
CHAPTER 3 Second Voyage: Mediator and Cultural Metis	53	(26)
Radisson returns to Iroquois territory	53	(5)
The Indianization of Radisson	55	(2)
The long-term impact of torture	57	(1)
A geopolitical upheaval and Amerindian rivalries	58	(4)
Iroquois power and a climate of dissension	59	(1)
A French waltz, Huron sighs and an Algonquin resurgence	60	(2)
Gannentaha, more at stake than a new mission	62	(3)
A societal debate and a social transformation	65	(1)
Radisson, an "Indianized" Frenchman	66	(3)
Iroquois tensions and expansion	69	(1)
The Jesuit influence	70	(4)
Jesuit precepts applied	73	(1)
A hasty depature from Gannentaha	74	(5)
CHAPTER 4 The Third Voyage: Medard Chouart, Called Des Groseilliers, Mentor of Radisson	79	(18)
The voyage of 1654-1656	81	(2)
Where was Des Groseilliers?	83	(10)
The nations which renew contact with the French	83	(2)
Traces and observations	85	(7)
Resurgence of the Franco-Huron-Algonquin network	92	(1)
A few details about Des Groseilliers	93	(4)
CHAPTER 5 Fourth Voyage: Radisson Accompanies Des Groseilliers to Lake Superior	97	(32)
Autonomous, irascible and determined	98	(3)
The voyage to Lake Superior	101	(5)
Partnership and collaboration	103	(2)
From Trois-Rivieres to Chekamegon Bay	105	(1)
Acquiring power	106	(9)
First of all, impress the Menominee	107	(5)
Braving winter	112	(1)
The Feast of the Dead	113	(2)
Stakes and negotiations	115	(3)
An understandable reaction on the part of the Amerindians	118	(3)
Living with is knowing...or the demanding life of a superman	121	(4)
"Home Sweet Home" is not French	125	(4)
CHAPTER 6 Radisson and Des Groseilliers Leave New France	129	(12)
The state of the colony	130	(2)
"A man of contradiction"	132	(2)
What to do? Where to go?	134	(2)
Welcome to the land of the English	136	(5)
INTERPOLATION	141	(4)
Crossing the Atlantic	141	(1)
European power	141	(1)
The trump card of Radisson and Des Groseilliers	142	(1)
What a story!	143	(2)
CHAPTER 7 Radisson Embraces England	145	(32)
Two difficult years	146	(1)
Many plagues	147	(2)
Mutual assistance and commercial networks: the clienteles	149	(2)
Vade mecum for courtiers	151	(1)
A maiden circle of supporters	152	(4)
The Company of the Royal Adventurers Trading into Africa	156	(3)
James Hayes, an ambitious secretary	159	(2)
Radisson and the Royal Society	161	(5)
Who is "ingenious"?	161	(5)
Experimental science, trade and Radisson	166	(5)
Shareholders true to the image of English society	171	(6)
CHAPTER 8 Radisson and Des Groseilliers in England and at Hudson Bay, 1668-1675	177	(34)
The orders given to the Captains in 1668	177	(3)
Radisson and Des Groseilliers at James Bay	180	(5)
Competition and instability	185	(2)
Des Groseilliers "takes up residence" at the Bay	187	(5)
A tense atmosphere at James Bay	189	(3)
Radisson's English journey 1670-1675	192	(9)
Transformations taking place within the Company	193	(1)
Lord Ashley, Earl of Shaftesbury	194	(4)
Interdiction on private trading	198	(1)
An internal dispute	199	(2)
Radisson and Des Groseilliers leave England	201	(4)
An irresistible sociopolitical movement	204	(1)
The straw that broke the camel's back	205	(3)
An ambivalent departure	208	(3)
CHAPTER 9 Radisson, From South to North, Between France and New France	211	(32)
A halfhearted welcome in the motherland	211	(1)
Radisson looks for a favorable environment	212	(10)
New France	212	(1)
France	213	(4)
England	217	(1)
France, New France, England...	218	(4)
Fifth travel narrative at the Nelson River, 1682-1683	222	(12)
The events	222	(12)
Ready again to leap into the fray	234	(3)
Radisson, the mature man	237	(2)
Political evolution in England	239	(1)
The only man for the situation?	240	(3)
CHAPTER 10 Radisson Wins the Day at Nelson and Remains in England	243	(36)
A lightning voyage	245	(3)
The "French way"	248	(3)
Under the orders of Radisson	249	(2)
Radisson's new relations with the Amerindians	251	(6)
What did the Amerindians of Hudson Bay expect from the fur trade?	257	(4)
Radisson's final voyage to Hudson Bay	261	(6)
Final return	264	(3)
The bittersweet "Glorious Revolution"	267	(2)
Radisson's career comes to an end	269	(4)
Radisson in Court against the Hudson Bay Company	273	(6)
CONCLUSION	279	(12)
Portrait of Radisson	279	(12)
The Amerindian chronicle	280	(4)
The English chronicle	284	(2)
The French chronicle	286	(1)
An intriguing personality	286	(5)
POSTFACE	291	(8)
APPENDIX 1	299	(2)
BIBLIOGRAPHY	301