Explorers of Canada, Part XIII: Pierre-Esprit Radisson

Pierre-Esprit Radisson was born in Avignon, France (or maybe it was Paris, depending on sources), between 1632 and 1640. Wow, records from that time aren't really reliable. He is in Canada sometime before 1646 at which time he is at his half-sister's wedding in Trois-Rivière. She latter remarries Médard Chouart Des Groseilliers in 1653. Yet for this second marriage Radisson is already in captivity, kidnapped by the Iroquois. He tries to evade but is caught again and then escapes a second time, finding his way to Fort Orange (Albany, U.S.) and lends his services to the Dutch. He returns to Trois-Rivières soon afterwards.

He goes to work at the Jesuit Mission of Onnontagué, yet when the mission is under attack in 1658 he organises the escape, which puts him in the history books.

His brother-in-law takes him under his wing and Radisson becomes an explorer, having lived much of his life in the woods. They spend a year going west of Lake Superior, stretching farther west than any European before them.

Because of the way they were treated by the governor of Quebec, who took their pelts and fined them, Radisson and Des Groseilliers change loyalties, now financed by the merchants of Boston. In 1665 they go to England to get the support refused to them by France.

They both made many trips between the Bay and England for the Hudson's Bay Company, which they helped form. Sometime in 1674, the two brothers-in-law meet the French Jesuit Charles Albanel, who convinces them to return to their French roots, and mainly because of the less than decent treatment they got from HBC, they change their loyalties again.

They are told by French authorities to find a way to get French banners to fly over the Bay, but badly treated by Governor Frontenac, they change careers. Radisson goes back to France, where he enters the Navy. But by 1680 he quits that job, having travelled the Caribbean and Africa. Radisson is now a poor man, both France and Canada refuse to listen to his plans for a French domination of the Hudson Bay. In France he meets La Chesnaye, who creates the French Hudson's Bay Company. Radisson and his half brother-in-law are reunited and return to their Bay. They conquer Port Nelson and a Bostonian ship but France gives no thanks and, pissed off again, Radisson goes back to England, where he sides once more with the Brits and HBC. They send him back to the Bay and Port Nelson flies English colours. He becomes an subject of the English king and dies in England in 1710, near poverty.

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