Joseph Larocque
| Joseph Larocque | |
|---|---|
| Joseph-Félix Larocque | |
| Born | c. 1787 L'Assomption, Lower Canada |
| Died | 1866-12-01 Ottawa, Canada West |
| Occupation | Fur trader; HBC chief trader |
| Father | |
| Mother | |
| Partner | |
Joseph Larocque (c. 1787 – 1 December 1866) was a fur trade clerk and chief trader who served successively with the XY Company, the North West Company, and the Hudson's Bay Company across western Canada during the first three decades of the nineteenth century.[1]
Early life
Larocque was born around 1787, probably at L'Assomption in Lower Canada, the son of François-Antoine Larocque and Angélique Leroux.[1] A baptismal record for one François Larocque dated 20 September 1786 at L'Assomption may refer to him; if so, his given name may have been Joseph-Félix.[1] His brother François-Antoine Larocque also entered the fur trade.
Career
At around fifteen years of age, Larocque entered the fur trade as a clerk for the XY Company in 1801, during the period of intense rivalry between that company and the North West Company.[1] After the two companies merged, he transferred to the North West Company and worked in the upper Churchill River country, with recorded postings at Lake La Ronge in 1804 and in the Fort des Prairies district in 1806.[1]
He subsequently moved west to the Columbia River Department. Around 1812 he was active near Fort Kamloops among the Shuswap peoples.[1] In 1813, Larocque joined John George McTavish in taking possession of Fort Astoria from Pacific Fur Company agents.[1][2] For the next three years he managed posts serving the Flathead, Okanagan, Kamloops, and Spokane House areas, and carried dispatches across country before travelling east again in 1816.[1]
In spring 1817, amid rising tensions between the North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company, Larocque was sent west again with reinforcements.[1] He was arrested at Fort Wedderburn in May 1820 in connection with violent incidents at Île-à-la-Crosse carried out by Peter Skene Ogden and Samuel Black.[1] Colin Robertson of the HBC described him at that time as one of the principal antagonists of the NWC. Fellow Nor'Westers secured his release at the Grand Rapids of the Saskatchewan River in June 1820. By September of that year, George Simpson found Larocque commanding at Île-à-la-Crosse and noted that Larocque appeared personally uneasy with some of the NWC's conduct despite his outlaw status.[1][3]
Following the coalition of the North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company in 1821, Larocque was appointed a chief trader.[1] He served in the English River district, at Edmonton House, and at Lesser Slave Lake. From 1825 to 1831 he managed the Mingan seigneury on the lower St. Lawrence River, overseeing its fur trade operations and fisheries.[1] He retired from active trade around 1830 having accumulated a substantial fortune estimated at 15,000 louis, equivalent to approximately $60,000 to $75,000 at the time.[1]
Personal life
Larocque married Archange Guillon-Duplessis in March 1833.[1] During the Canadian rebellions of 1837 he left for France, where he and his wife resided until 1851.[1] While abroad, in 1843 he contributed £225 toward the construction of Saint-Joseph College at Willamette, Oregon, intended for French Canadian settlers in the region.[1] After returning to Montreal he engaged in further philanthropic activities.
In the autumn of 1857, Larocque and his wife retired to the Grey Nuns' convent at Ottawa, where he helped in establishing the Hôpital Général.[1]
Death
Larocque died on 1 December 1866 at Ottawa, Canada West.[1] In his will he left his fortune to the Grey Nuns.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 E. E. Rich."E. E. Rich, "Larocque, Joseph," Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 9."[website].Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 9 (University of Toronto/Université Laval).1976.University of Toronto/Université Laval.Link.(Rights: copyrighted | Access: open)
- ↑ Gabriel Franchère."Journal of a Voyage on the North West Coast of North America during the Years 1811, 1812, 1813 and 1814."[book].1969.ed. W. Kaye Lamb.(Rights: unknown | Access: open)
- ↑ E. E. Rich; R. Harvey Fleming."Hudson's Bay Record Society series, vols. I, II, III."[book].Hudson's Bay Record Society.vols. I, II, III.(Rights: unknown | Access: open)