What is Jean Baptiste Point DuSable known for?

Jean Baptiste Point du Sable (also spelled Point de Sable, Point au Sable, Point Sable, Pointe DuSable; before 1750 – 28 August 1818) is regarded as the first permanent non-Indigenous settler of what would later become Chicago, Illinois, and is recognized as the “Founder of Chicago”.

Did Du Sable have slaves?

This prominent French-Canadian, who also lived at Cahokia, had an Indian slave, Pointe Sable, whom he mortgaged to the trader Gabriel Cerre, along with his other property, in 1792.

When did Jean Baptiste Point DuSable find Chicago?

1779
JEAN-BAPTISTE POINT DU SABLE His father was a French sea captain and his mother a slave of African descent. DuSable settled by the Chicago River, developing a prosperous trading post around 1779. That little settlement became the great city of Chicago.

Who was the first White Father of Chicago?

Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable
The Father of Chicago: Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable. “The first white man to settle in Chicago was black.” That was a popular witticism around town in the 1930s, and it says a lot about the attitudes of the time.

Did Jean Baptiste DuSable have slaves?

DuSable arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1765 whereupon he learned the colony had become a Spanish possession. Having lost his identification papers and been injured on the voyage to New Orleans, DuSable was almost enslaved. French Jesuit priests protected him until he was healthy enough to travel.

Is Jean Baptiste Point du Sable black?

The first permanent settler in Chicago was a black man named Jean Baptiste Point DuSable. He may have been born on the island of Haiti around 1745 to a French mariner and a mother who was a slave of African descent.

What does Chicago mean in Native American?

The most-accepted Chicago meaning is a word that comes from the Algonquin language: “shikaakwa,” meaning “striped skunk” or “onion.” According to early explorers, the lakes and streams around Chicago were full of wild onions, leeks, and ramps.

Who first settled Chicago?

Jean Baptiste Point DuSable
The first permanent settler in Chicago was a black man named Jean Baptiste Point DuSable. He may have been born on the island of Haiti around 1745 to a French mariner and a mother who was a slave of African descent. DuSable was educated in France and then, in the early 1770s, sailed to New Orleans.

What is the new name for Lake Shore Drive?

Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Last week, the City Council voted to rename Lake Shore Drive to Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore Drive, in honor of the Black trader cited as the first non-Indigenous settler of the Midwestern city.

Why is Chicago called The onion city?

Chicago is named after a wild and smelly onion, of which could be any of these varieties: From left, nodding onion, wild leek/ramp and field garlic.

What does the word Chicago really mean?

What Does the Word “Chicago” Mean? The most-accepted Chicago meaning is a word that comes from the Algonquin language: “shikaakwa,” meaning “striped skunk” or “onion.” According to early explorers, the lakes and streams around Chicago were full of wild onions, leeks, and ramps.

Did Jean DuSable have slaves?

Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable was born in St. Marc, St. Domingue (present-day Haiti) around 1745 to a French father and a Black African slave mother. In fact, scholars debate DuSable’s origins, with some arguing that he had French Canadian roots.

How did Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable get to France?

According to legend, when Jean Baptiste’s mother was killed during a Spanish raid, the boy swam out to his father’s ship to take refuge. After that, the older DuSable took his son to France to be educated. Along with a friend, Jean Baptiste arrived in New Orleans in 1764.

Are there any portraits of Jean Baptiste Point du Sable?

There are no known portraits of Jean Baptiste Point du Sable made during his lifetime. This depiction is taken from A. T. Andreas’ book History of Chicago (1884).

Where was Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable buried in Chicago?

Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable died at his daughter’s house on August 28, 1818, and was buried in the local Catholic cemetery. His gravesite remained unmarked until 1968. After DuSable left Chicago, his property on the riverbank was taken over by John Kinzie. The years passed, and Kinzie was hailed as Mr. Pioneer Settler. DuSable was forgotten.

Why did Jean Baptiste Point du Sable leave Chicago?

Point du Sable left Chicago in 1800. He sold his property to Jean La Lime, a trader from Quebec, and moved to the Missouri River valley, at that time part of Spanish Louisiana. The reason for his departure is unknown. By 1804, John Kinzie, who also settled in Chicago, had bought the former du Sable house.

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