12.07.2015 Views

La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS
  • No tags were found...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

CHAPTER 1.1643-1669.CAVELIER DE LA SALLE.The Youth <strong>of</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> : his Connection with <strong>the</strong> Jesuits ;he goes to Canada ; his Character ; his Schemes ; his Seignioryat <strong>La</strong> Chine ; his Expedition in Search <strong>of</strong> a <strong>West</strong>ernPassage to India.Among <strong>the</strong> burghers <strong>of</strong> Rouen was <strong>the</strong> old <strong>and</strong> richfamily <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Caveliers. Though citizens <strong>and</strong> notnobles, some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir connections held high diplomaticposts <strong>and</strong> honorable employments at Court.They were destined to find a better claim to distinction.In 1643 was born at Rouen Robert Cavelier,better known by <strong>the</strong> designation <strong>of</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>. 1 Hisfa<strong>the</strong>r Jean <strong>and</strong> his uncle Henri were wealthy mer-1The following is <strong>the</strong> acte de naissance, discovered by Margry in<strong>the</strong> registres de I'etat civil, Paroisse St. Herbl<strong>and</strong>, Rouen ": Le vingtdeuxiemejour de novembre, 1643, a ete' baptise Robert Cavelier, filsde honorable homme Jean Cavelier et de Ca<strong>the</strong>rine Geest ; ses parrainet marraine honorables personnes Nicolas Geest et MargueriteMorice."<strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>'s name in full was ReneVRobert Cavelier, Sieur de la<strong>Salle</strong>. <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> was <strong>the</strong> name <strong>of</strong> an estate near Rouen, belongingto <strong>the</strong> Caveliers. The wealthy French burghers <strong>of</strong>ten distinguished<strong>the</strong> various members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir families by designations borrowedfrom l<strong>and</strong>ed estates. Thus, Francois Marie Arouet, son <strong>of</strong> anex-notary, received <strong>the</strong> name <strong>of</strong> Voltaire, which he made famous.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!