The Remarkable History of the Hudson’s Bay Company

Appendix B

Summary of Life of Pierre Esprit Radisson

A. Earlier Life and Voyages (1636-1663).

I. Birth and Immigration.
Pierre Esprit Radisson, born in Paris (afterwards lived at St. Malo)	1636
(Though some claim that he was born in 1620, this is incorrect, for in his petition read in the House of Commons, London, March 11th, 1698, he states that he is sixty-two years of age.)
Arrived with his father’s family in Canada, May	1651
(Settled at Three Rivers.)
II. Western Voyages.
First voyage to the Iroquois country	1652
(Captured by the Iroquois.)
Escaped and fled to Holland	1653
Returned to Canada	1654
Second voyage to Onondaga	1657
Third voyage, visited Sioux and Assiniboines through the Mississippi country	1658-60
Returned to Montreal with 500 Indians	1660
Fourth voyage, to region north of Lake Superior	1661
Held great council with the Indians	1662
Leaves the country of the Crees and returns to Montreal	1663
III. In English Service.
Quarrels with French Governor. Goes to Boston from Quebec	1664
Crosses to England	1665
Vessel engaged to go to Hudson Bay delayed	1666
Disturbed condition of England causes further delay	1667
Eaglet, on which Radisson embarked, did not reach Hudson Bay; Nonsuch, with Groseilliers on board, did	1668
Nonsuch returns to England	1669
Hudson’s Bay Company chartered through assistance of Groseilliers and Radisson	1670
Radisson first visits Hudson Bay	1670
Radisson returns and winters in London	1671
Radisson, with Captain Gillam, goes to Hudson Bay	1672
Returns to London and winters there	1673
IV. Enters French Service.
Radisson and Groseilliers desert England for France, October	1674
Radisson goes on expedition to the Antilles
Crosses under French auspices to Canada	1681
Goes to Hudson Bay on French ship	1682
Winters in Hudson Bay, captures Gillam’s ship, and returns to Canada	1683
Crosses to France, and undertakes new expedition to Hudson Bay	1684
V. Deserts France and returns to England.
Radisson joins English, and goes immediately to Hudson Bay, May 12th	1684
Seizes 20,000 furs from French and comes to London	1684
Sails again to Hudson Bay	1685
VI. Further History.
Made a denizen of England	1687
Sails for Hudson Bay	1688
Receives share of the great dividend	1690
Sir John Young applies for increase of Radisson’s allowance	1692
Radisson files a bill in Chancery against Company	1694
″ petitions Parliament for consideration	1698
″ applies to Company for position	1700
″ receives last allowance from Company (probably his death)	1710