Duluth, Daniel Greysolon, sieur, Canadian History, Biographies

Related Category: Canadian History, Biographies

Duluth, Daniel Greysolon, sieur[dulOOth´, Fr. dUlUt´] Pronunciation Key, 1636–1710, French explorer in Canada. He went to Canada with his younger brother c.1672. In 1678 he set out on an expedition to Lake Superior to pacify the indigenous people and end the Ojibwa-Sioux War. Going as far as the Ojibwa village at Mille Lacs Lake in Minnesota, he claimed the upper Mississippi region for France. He remained in the West, but his plans for exploration were interrupted (1680) by the negotiation for the release of Hennepin and Aco, members of La Salle's party. Returning to Mackinac, he found himself charged with illegal trading and had to go to France to clear himself. In 1683 he was off on a new expedition, on which he established his brother in trade on Lake Nipigon and built a fort at Kaministikwia. He was recalled to join Perrot in leading an expedition against the Iroquois. Returning to Kaministikwia he prepared to search for the Western Sea, but was again recalled to fight the Iroquois. In 1686 he built Fort St. Joseph on the St. Clair River. He went on his last Lake Superior expedition in 1688. In 1695 he was retired because of lameness. Duluth won the Lake Superior and upper Mississippi region for France; his treatment of the native peoples gained their lasting friendship.

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