Pierre Alphonse de Tonty, or Alphonse de Tonty, Baron de Paludy (1659 – 10 November 1727) was an officer who served under the French explorer Cadillac and helped establish the first European settlement at Detroit, Michigan, Fort Pontchartrain du Detroit on the Detroit River in 1701. Several months later, both Cadillac and Tonty brought their wives to the fort, making them the first European women to travel so deep into the new territory. Events May 25 - Richard Cromwell resigns as Lord Protector of England following the restoration of the Long Parliament, beginning a second brief period of the republican government called the Commonwealth. ... November 10 is the 314th day of the year (315th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 51 days remaining. ... Events June 11 - George, Prince of Wales becomes King George II of Great Britain. ... Statue of Cadillac commemorating his landing in Detroit Antoine Laumet, dit de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac (March 5, 1658-October 15, 1730), a French explorer, was a colourful figure in the history of New France. ... This article is about the continent. ... City motto: Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus (We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes) City nicknames: The Motor City and Motown Location in the state of Michigan Founded July 24, 1701 County Wayne County Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick (Dem) Area  - Total  - Water 370. ... Detroit River seen from Grosse Ile Township, Michigan The Detroit River is about 51 km (32 miles) long and 1 to 4 km (0. ... Events January 18 - Frederick I becomes King of Prussia. ... This article is about the continent. ...

He was the son of Lorenzo de Tonti who was a financier and former governor of Gaeta. Lorenzo de Tonti was the inventor of the form of life insurance known as the tontine. Henri de Tonti, involved in LaSalle's exploration of the Mississippi was his older brother. Life insurance is a type of insurance. ... A Tontine is an investment vehicle which is an odd mixture of group annuity, group life insurance, and lottery. ... Henri de Tonti (1649-1704) was an Italian-born soldier, explorer, and fur trader in the service of France. ... Engraving of La Salle René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle (November 22, 1643 – March 19, 1687) was a French cleric and explorer. ... State nickname: Magnolia State Other U.S. States Capital Jackson Largest city Jackson Governor Haley Barbour Official languages English Area 125,546 km² (32nd)  - Land 121,606 km²  - Water 3,940 km² (3%) Population (2000)  - Population 2,697,243 (31st)  - Density 23. ...

Tonty was commanding the fort in Detroit by 1717, but by 1727 numerous complaints, including those by the Huron led to his dismissal. Events January 4 — The Netherlands, Britain & France sign Triple Alliance March 2 — Dancer John Weaver performs in the first ballet in Britain shown in Drury Lane The Loves of Mars and Venus March 31 - Bishop Benjamin Hoadly, acting on the advice of King George begins the Bangorian Controversy by saying... This article is about the First Nations people, the Wyandot, also known as the Huron. ...

Tonty was involved in numerous scandals and disreputable activities before he was eventually dismissed from his post as commandant of Fort Ponchartrain. He died before he could obtain another appointment or return to France.

External links

• Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online