14 Facts About Nicolas Perrot

Nicolas Perrot was born in France between 1641 and 1644, perhaps at Darcey in Burgundy, where his father was lieutenant of justice.

Nicolas Perrot journeyed with several to the Western Great Lakes, where they intended to preach to the Native Americans, reaching present-day Wisconsin in 1665.

Nicolas Perrot earned the friendship of the natives by swapping furs for guns, allowing the group to defend themselves on an equal footing against their enemies.

Nicolas Perrot was nicknamed the "trafficker of iron", or "iron legs".

Nicolas Perrot was given a land grant on the river Saint-Michel in present-day Quebec.

Nicolas Perrot worked hard to bring about peace, and was successful, at least for a time.

Nicolas Perrot returned to Montreal, where in the spring of 1688 he served as an interpreter for the treaty between Governor and Onondaga chief Otreouti, who promised the neutrality of the Onondaga, Cayuga, and Oneida of the Five Nations of the Haudenosaunee or Iroquois League in confrontations with the French.

In 1695 Nicolas Perrot brought the Miami, Sauk, Menominee, Potawatomi and Meskwaki chiefs to Montreal at the governor's request, regarding war with the Iroquois.

Nicolas Perrot returned west where his concern was to maintain unity and peace among them in their efforts against the Iroquois.

Nicolas Perrot still served as interpreter, but this period of his life was marked by financial difficulties and harassment from creditors.

Nicolas Perrot asked the authorities for a compensation he said was due to him, and a pension in consideration of services long provided, but was not satisfied.

Nicolas Perrot was involved in court cases involving lawsuits filed by and against him.

Nicolas Perrot wrote his memoirs, which became valuable to later historians.

Nicolas Perrot was buried the next day in the church at Becancour.