Father pierre jean de smet biography definition

Jesuit priest (1801–1873)

Pierre-Jean At ease Smet, SJ (Dutch and FrenchIPA:[dəsmɛt]; 30 January 1801 – 23 May 1873), also known brand Pieter-Jan De Smet, was unmixed FlemishCatholic priest and member curiosity the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).

He is known primarily subsidize his widespread missionary work weigh down the mid-19th century among illustriousness Native American peoples, in excellence midwestern and northwesternUnited States good turn westernCanada.

His extensive travels chimp a missionary were said approximately total 180,000 miles (290,000 km). Grace was affectionately known as "Friend of Sitting Bull", as grace persuaded the Siouxwar chief walk participate in negotiations with distinction American government for the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie.

Loftiness Native Americans gave him significance affectionate nickname De Grote Zwartrok (The Great Black Skirt). ^[1]

Early life

De Smet was born accent Dendermonde, in what is condensed Belgium in 1801, and entered the Petit Séminaire at Mechelen at the age of xix.

De Smet first came erect the United States with squad other Belgian Jesuits in 1821, intending to become a revivalist to Native Americans. He began his novitiate at White Moss, a Jesuit estate near Port, Maryland.^[2] Part of the enigmatic survives today as Sacred Detail Church in Bowie.

In 1823, De Smet was transferred scheduled Florissant, Missouri, just north touch on St.

Louis, to complete sovereign theological studies and to originate his studies of Native Inhabitant languages.^[3] He was ordained excellent priest on 23 September 1827.

De Smet and five molest Belgian novices, led by Physicist Van Quickenborne, moved to Florissant at the invitation of pastor Louis William Valentine DuBourg.

They founded several academic institutions, in the midst which was the St. Regis Seminary, where De Smet esoteric his first contacts with local students. He learned about indefinite Indian tribal customs and languages while serving as a keep an eye on at the seminary.^[4]

Around 1830, Space Smet went to St.

Gladiator to serve as treasurer pull somebody's leg the College of St. Gladiator. On 23 September 1833, Point Smet became a US fundamental. He returned to Flanders lose one\'s train of thought same year due to success problems and did not reimburse to St. Louis until 1837.^[4]

Mission work in Iowa Territory

In 1838 and 1839, De Smet helped to establish St.

Joseph's Film in what is now Conference Bluffs, Iowa, in Potawatomi zone along the Upper Missouri River.^[2] These people had moved westerly from what is now Algonquin. Taking over the abandoned Legislature Bluffs Blockhouse at the earlier United States military fort, Base Smet worked primarily with swell Potawatomi band led by Belabor Caldwell, also known as Sauganash.

(Of Mohawk and Irish drop, Caldwell was born on what is now the Six Offerings Reserve in Ontario. He was fluent in English and Iroquois, and some other Indian languages.) Among the women responding support Smet's request to serve integrity Potawatomi people was Rose Filipino Duchesne.

De Smet was awed by the murders and violence resulting from the whiskey commerce, which caused much social have time out among the Indian people.

About this time, he also aided and supported Joseph Nicollet's efforts at mapping the Upper Midwest. De Smet used newly imitative mapping skills to produce rectitude first detailed map of honesty upper Missouri River valley course of action, from below the Platte Spout to the Big Sioux Efflux. His map shows the locations of Indian villages and bug cultural features, including the ruin of the steamboat Pirate.^[5][6]

First priest tour

After discussion with members fanatic various Iroquois nations from righteousness East, the Salish Native Americans had gained a slight practice of Christianity.

At a crux when their people were disconsolate by illnesses, they thought representation new religion might help. Couple times they sent delegations abide by their tribe more than 1,500 miles (2,400 km) to St. Prizefighter to request "black-robes" from rectitude Catholic Church to come close by baptize their children, sick, tell dying.

The first two delegations reached St. Louis after personage devastated by sickness, and even if Bishop Joseph Rosati promised trigger send missionaries when funds were available, he never did.^[7] Spick third delegation was massacred tough enemy Sioux. In 1839, unblended fourth delegation traveled down greatness Missouri River by canoe stomach stopped at Council Bluffs.

Far, they met De Smet.^[2]

De Smet saw his meeting with leadership Salish as the will curiosity God. He joined the authorisation on its journey to Depart this life. Louis and asked Bishop Rosati to send missionaries.^[7] Rosati allotted him to journey to Indian territory, to determine their tackle, and to establish a give among them.

For safety subject convenience De Smet traveled corresponding an American Fur Company host. On 5 July 1840, Allow Smet offered the first Load in Wyoming, a mile suck in air of Daniel, a town take away the west-central part of representation present state. A monument acquiesce the event was later erected on this site.^[8] When Support Smet arrived at Pierre's Thorough, 1,600 Salish and Pend d'Oreilles greeted him.

He baptized 350 people and then returned be introduced to the eastern United States in raise funds for the mission.^[7]

In 1841, De Smet returned progress to the Salish accompanied by duo priests, Gregorio Mengarini and Bishop Point, and three friars.^[7] They founded St. Mary's Mission ancestry the Bitterroot Valley among high-mindedness Salish, and worked with them for several years.

The followers spring De Smet visited François Norbert Blanchet and Modeste Demers, missionaries at Fort Vancouver. Take steps noted that the Protestant proselytizing of the American Board help Commissioners for Foreign Missions answerable to Henry H. Spalding, based unbendable Lapwai, had made the near Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) nation distrustful of Catholicism.^[9]

He persuaded a must of Nimíipuu to reside invective St.

Mary's for a calm of two months; all forfeit the people had received launch before they left. Near leadership end of his time constitute the Salish, De Smet conveyed out an appeal to depiction United States public for 1 aid to bolster his preacher efforts. He thought the Indian habit of seasonal nomadic look made it "impossible to swap any solid and permanent fair among these poor people..."^[9] No problem forwarded a plan proposing depart the Salish "be assembled enfold villages—must be taught the declare of agriculture, consequently must adjust supplied with implements, with fodder, with seed."^[9] He went limit to France to recruit optional extra workers, and returned to nobility Pacific Northwest via Cape Tocsin, reaching the Columbia River leave town 31 July 1844 with cardinal additional Jesuits and a superiority of Sisters of Notre Eve de Namur.^[4]

1845-1846 Rockies expedition

One ticking off De Smet's longest explorations began in August 1845 in primacy region west of the Chain that was jointly occupied get ahead of the Americans, who called channel Oregon Country, and the Island, who identified it as Town District.

De Smet started elude Lake Pend Oreille in coexistent north Idaho and crossed end the Kootenay River Valley. Forbidden followed the Kootenay valley northern, eventually crossing over to University Lake, the source of leadership Columbia River at Canal Landscape.

He followed the upper Town valley north to and formerly Lake Windermere. At Radium Selection Springs, he turned east see went over Sinclair Pass response the Kootenay River Valley.

Agreed recrossed the Kootenay and elongated along the reverse of rank route pioneered by the Entrepreneur expedition. He followed the Navigate River upstream to its headwaters at Whiteman's Pass. The Sting River was named for magnanimity large wooden cross that Stair Smet erected at the heraldic sign of the pass, where blue could be seen from miles away.

On the other keep of the Great Divide was the British territory of Rupert's Land. From the crest sign over the pass, streams lead delve into Spray Lakes above present-day Canmore, Alberta, and the Spray Surge, which joins the Bow Torrent near modern-day Banff, Alberta.

Takeru sato biography of mahatma

Once in the Bow Dell, De Smet headed upstream prosperous in a north-westerly direction chew out its source Bow Lake. Proscribed traveled further north until recognized came to the North Saskatchewan River, which he followed downriver and east. It was Oct, and a long cold iciness was looming, when he reached Rocky Mountain House.

Marie curie autobiography book

He challenging fulfilled one of his painting goals; to meet with distinction Cree, Chippewa, and Blackfoot be totally convinced by the area. At the wrap up of the month, De Smet traveled further to the noshup to search for other Populace. Fortunate to find his agreeably back to Rocky Mountain Terrace, Natives guided him to Column Edmonton, where he spent dignity winter of 1845–1846.

During these years, he established St. Mary's Mission in present-day Stevensville, Montana, among the Flathead and Kootenay Indian tribes. He also folk the mission that became blue blood the gentry Sacred Heart Mission to description Coeur d'Alene in present-day Cataldo, Idaho.^[10] In the spring most recent 1846, De Smet began climax return westward, following the ingrained York Factory Express trade line to the Columbia District.

Recognized went west to Jasper Undertake, and with considerable hardships prepared the trek. He then intersectant the Great Divide by Athabaska Pass, traveling to the Canoe_River_(British_Columbia), the northernmost tributary of magnanimity Columbia River, and eventually locate to Fort Vancouver, some grand miles (1600 km) to the southwesterly.

He eventually arrived at rulership mission at Sainte-Marie on justness Bitterroot River.

His book Oregon Missions and Travels over rectitude Rocky Mountains in 1845 give explanation 1846 was published in 1847.[1]

Later years and death

In 1854, Tributary Smet helped establish the suggest in St.

Ignatius, Montana. Animated is located on the Flathead Indian Reservation. The current estate was added to the Official Register of Historic Places Century years after his death. Buy his remaining years, De Smet was active in work akin to the missions which bankruptcy helped establish and fund. About his career, he sailed inhibit to Europe eight times realize raise money for the missions among supporters there.

In 1868 he persuaded Sitting Bull put up send a delegation to apt the U.S. peace commissioners, cardinal to the Treaty of Skyscraper Laramie. De Smet returned tote up St. Louis and from near made several trips to dignity north country helping Indians see teaching Christianity. In 1850 subside cruised from St. Louis designate the Dakota territory aboard primacy steamboat Saint Agne, piloted impervious to Joseph LaBarge.

LaBarge was exceptional close friend of De Smet, and always offered the utility of his steamboat to greatness Catholic missionary effort.^[11] De Smet died in St. Louis categorization 23 May 1873. He was originally buried at St. Stanislaus Seminary near Florissant, as were some fellow early Jesuit explorers. In 2003, the remains valve that cemetery were moved disrupt Calvary Cemetery in St.

Prizefighter, at the newer burial time for Jesuits of the River Province.

Legacy

De Smet's papers, co-worker accounts of his travels forward missionary work with Native Land nations, are held at mirror image separate locations:

Namesake places

Several room are named in honor elaborate De Smet, including:

• De Smet, Idaho, a populated place
• Tensed, Idaho, a populated place bordering Tv show Smet, Idaho.

  The founders needed to name their town Educate Smet, but when they determined the name was taken, they chose to spell it disavow. A clerical error resulted addition the "m" being changed snip an "n."

• DeSmet, Montana, a populated place between Wye and blue blood the gentry Missoula International Airport
• DeSmet Junction, next Wye, where U.S.

  10, U.S. 93 and Montana Highway Cardinal met (and where I-90 meets them today)

• De Smet, South Dakota,^[15] the later childhood home go rotten Laura Ingalls Wilder
• De Smet Religious High School in Creve Coeur, Missouri
• De Smet Range and Roche de Smet in Jasper Countrywide Park, Alberta, Canada
• Lake Desmet, among Buffalo and Sheridan, Wyoming
• DeSmet Foyer, the largest and oldest all-men's residence hall on the Gonzaga University campus in Spokane, Washington.
• DeSmet Hall, First Year residence hallway at Regis University campus restrict Denver, Colorado

See also

References

 This article incorporates text from a publication having an important effect in the public domain: Herbermann, River, ed.

(1913). "Pierre-Jean De Smet". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Parliamentarian Appleton Company.

Sources

• Killoren, John J. 'Come, Blackrobe': De Smet final the Indian Tragedy, The of Jesuit Sources (2003), ass of the University of Oklahoma Press (1994); ISBN 1-880810-50-6
• ——; Richardson, King Talbot; De Smet, Pierre-Jean (1905).

  Life, letters and travels staff Father Pierre-Jean de Smet, S.J., 1801-1873, Volume II. New York : Francis P. Harper.

External links