François Picquet
Encyclopedia
François Picquet was a Sulpician priest who came to Montreal
from France in 1734. He spent the next few years studying Indian languages and customs and serving the local parish.
From 1739 to 1749 he served at Lac des Deux Montagnes
, where there was a Sulpician mission. It was during that period that Picquet made the decision to work with the Indians south of the Great Lakes for conversion and to ensure their loyalty to France. In 1748 a commitment was made by Roland-Michel Barrin de La Galissonière
, the Governor General of New France
, to send Abbé Picquet to the Thousand Islands area for the above purpose.
In 1749, Abbé Picquet built a mission fort named Fort de La Présentation
near the junction of the Oswegatchie River
and the St Lawrence River. By 1755 it had a large population of Iroqois loyal to France. In 1758, with the Seven Years' War
intensifying, a military commander was put in charge of that new aspect of the fort. The Abbé was displeased with this dilution of his authority and left the fort for a period. He was back in July, 1758, to lead his Indian troops in the battle of Carillon
. He also was part of Louis de la Corne's
excursion to the Oswego area the following year.
In 1759, the mission fort was abandoned in favour of Fort Lévis
and Picquet fled to Montreal
with his Indian troops. He left there for New Orleans where he stayed for a time, returning to France in 1772. He took up a ministry at Verjon
and then as a chaplain to the nuns of the Visitation
. A private audience with Pope Pius VI occurred in 1777 and he retired in 1779.
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
from France in 1734. He spent the next few years studying Indian languages and customs and serving the local parish.
From 1739 to 1749 he served at Lac des Deux Montagnes
Lac des Deux Montagnes
Lake of Two Mountains is part of the river delta widening of the Ottawa River in Quebec, Canada, where it feeds into the St. Lawrence River....
, where there was a Sulpician mission. It was during that period that Picquet made the decision to work with the Indians south of the Great Lakes for conversion and to ensure their loyalty to France. In 1748 a commitment was made by Roland-Michel Barrin de La Galissonière
Roland-Michel Barrin de La Galissonière
Roland-Michel Barrin de La Galissonière, Marquis de La Galissonière, sometimes spelled Galissonnière, was the French governor of New France from 1747 to 1749 and the victor in the Battle of Minorca in 1756.- New France :...
, the Governor General of New France
Governor General of New France
Governor General of New France was the vice-regal post in New France from 1663 until 1760 and was the last French vice-regal post. It was replaced by the British post of Governor of the Province of Quebec following the fall of New France...
, to send Abbé Picquet to the Thousand Islands area for the above purpose.
In 1749, Abbé Picquet built a mission fort named Fort de La Présentation
Fort de La Présentation
In 1749, the French Sulpician priest, Abbé Picquet, built a mission fort, which he named Fort de La Présentation . It was also sometimes known as Fort La Galette. It was built at the confluence of the Oswegatchie River and the St Lawrence River in Canada...
near the junction of the Oswegatchie River
Oswegatchie River
The Oswegatchie River is a river in northern New York that flows north from the Adirondack Mountains to the Saint Lawrence River at the city of Ogdensburg. The river mouth was the site of a Jesuit mission, Fort de La Présentation, founded in 1749. Also a fur trading post, the village had 3,000...
and the St Lawrence River. By 1755 it had a large population of Iroqois loyal to France. In 1758, with the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
intensifying, a military commander was put in charge of that new aspect of the fort. The Abbé was displeased with this dilution of his authority and left the fort for a period. He was back in July, 1758, to lead his Indian troops in the battle of Carillon
Battle of Carillon
The Battle of Carillon, also known as the 1758 Battle of Ticonderoga, was fought on July 8, 1758, during the French and Indian War...
. He also was part of Louis de la Corne's
Louis de la Corne, Chevalier de la Corne
Louis de la Corne or Louis Chapt, Chevalier de la Corne was born at Fort Frontenac in what is now Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and began his career in the colonial regular troops as a second ensign in 1722 and was made full ensign five years later.He married in 1728 and began investing heavily in...
excursion to the Oswego area the following year.
In 1759, the mission fort was abandoned in favour of Fort Lévis
Fort Lévis
Fort Lévis, a fortification on the St. Lawrence River, was built in 1759 by the French. They had decided that Fort de La Présentation was insufficient to defend the St. Lawrence against the British. Named for François Gaston de Lévis, Duc de Lévis, the fort was constructed on Isle Royale, three...
and Picquet fled to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
with his Indian troops. He left there for New Orleans where he stayed for a time, returning to France in 1772. He took up a ministry at Verjon
Verjon
Verjon is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Geography:The Solnan has its source in the commune and forms part of its southwestern border.-Population:...
and then as a chaplain to the nuns of the Visitation
Visitation (Catholic)
The Visitation is the visit of Mary with Elizabeth as recorded in the Gospel of Luke, . It is also the name of a Christian feast day commemorating this visit, celebrated on 31 May in the West and 30 March in the East.- Event :Mary visits her relative Elizabeth; they are both pregnant...
. A private audience with Pope Pius VI occurred in 1777 and he retired in 1779.