He came to New France as a teenager and was captured in an Iroquois raid, but was adopted by his captors and became accustomed to their way of life. After two years living with the Iroquois he returned to New France, and he journeyed to the fur-trading regions of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior with his brother-in-law Médard des Groseilliers. However, as they did not have a license to trade furs, the officials in New France confiscated their furs and fined them when they returned in 1660.
In 1668 they joined the English, leading two English merchant ships into Hudson Bay from the north. This eliminated the necessity of travelling to fur-trading lands by land from the St. Lawrence region. The mission was successful and in 1670 the English founded the Hudson's Bay Company.
Radisson attempted to return to New France. He lived in England until his death in 1710.
External links
Voyages Of Peter Esprit Radisson (http://www.gutenberg.net/browse/BIBREC/BR6913.HTM); The narratives of Pierre Espirit Radisson; Project Gutenberg edition.
Radisson was a bold and energetic figure in a colourful age of adventure and intrigue (courtesy National Archives of Canada/C-15497).
Radisson returned to England in 1684, and despite the losses he had caused, the HBC re-employed him, hoping to profit by "his great Experience & dexterity." He had his nephew surrender Ft Bourbon and its contents to the company.
Radisson was chief director of trade at Fort Nelson from 1685 to 1687.
Shortly thereafter, Radisson was captured by a Mohawk hunting party in the Trois-Rivières area and was taken to the vicinity of present-day Scenectady.
Radisson organized and executed the evacuation of the all the residents of Onondaga, effectively finding his place in Canadian history.
Radisson was not an explorer, but even at young his age, he bore the scars of a hard life and had knowledge of the Natives that would be invaluable to des Grosseilliers in his future explorations.
Feeds |
Contact