| Pierre-Jean De Smet | |
 Photograph of De Smet by Mathew Brady, circa 1860-1865. Note that Mathew B Brady spelled his first name with only one "t" |
|
| Born | January 30, 1801 in Termonde, Belgium |
|---|---|
| Died | May 23, 1873 (aged 72) in St. Louis, Missouri |
| Church | Roman Catholic |
| Other names | Pierre DeSmet, Peter DeSmet |
| Education | White Marsh Novitiate (in present-day Bowie, Maryland) |
| Ordained | September 23, 1827 |
Father Pierre-Jean De Smet, (30 January 1801 – 23 May 1873), also known as Pierre DeSmet and Peter DeSmet, a Roman Catholic priest and member of the Society of Jesus, was a Belgian, active in missionary work among the Native Americans of the Western United States in the mid-1800s. Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain Year 1801 ( MDCCCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Tuesday Dendermonde ( French: Termonde, German: Dendermünde) is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Events 1430 - Siege of Compiègne: Joan of Arc is captured by the Burgundians while leading an army to relieve Compiègne Year 1873 ( MDCCCLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1122 - Concordat of Worms. 1459 - Battle of Blore Heath, the first major battle of the English Year 1827 ( MDCCCXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain Year 1801 ( MDCCCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Tuesday Events 1430 - Siege of Compiègne: Joan of Arc is captured by the Burgundians while leading an army to relieve Compiègne Year 1873 ( MDCCCLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Society of Jesus ( Latin: Societas Iesu, SJ and SI or SJ, SI) is a Catholic religious order Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States The Western United States &mdashcommonly referred to as the American West or simply the West &mdashtraditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost
Contents |
Early life
De Smet was born in Dendermonde, Belgium. Dendermonde ( French: Termonde, German: Dendermünde) is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those He first came to America in 1821 to begin his novitiate at White Marsh, a Jesuit estate near Baltimore, Maryland (part of which exists today as Sacred Heart Church in Bowie). Novitiate, alt noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a Novice (or prospective) monastic or member The Society of Jesus ( Latin: Societas Iesu, SJ and SI or SJ, SI) is a Catholic religious order Sacred Heart Church in Bowie, Maryland is a Catholic Church established in 1729 Bowie (ˈbuːi is a city in Prince George's County Maryland, United States. Later he moved to Florissant, Missouri, where he was ordained on Sept. See also Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument and Florissant Colorado. 23, 1827. From 1824-1830, he learned about Indian customs and other useful information as a prefect at St. Prefect (from the Latin praefectus, perfect participle of praeficere: "make in front" i Regis Seminary.
From 1833-1837, he was in Belgium due to health problems. Year 1833 ( MDCCCXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Year 1837 ( MDCCCXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those
When he returned, he was engaged as a recruiter of men, supplies, and money for the Missouri Province. His travels west allowed him to spend a large period of his life exploring and organizing missions. He was involved in extensive missionary work, especially among the Flatheads. A missionary is a member of a Religion who works to convert those who do not share the missionary's faith someone who proselytizes. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation are the Bitterroot Salish, Kootenai and Pend d'Oreilles Tribes He was sent by Bishop Joseph Rosati after several pleas from the Nez Perce and Flathead Indians to receive a 'Blackrobe' (the name by which the Catholic missionnaries were known, as they were wearing the traditional long black cassock). Joseph Rosati (1789 - 1843 was a US ( Italian -born Catholic bishop The Nez Perce (ˌnɛzˈpɝs are a Tribe of Native Americans who live in the Pacific Northwest region ( Columbia River Plateau) of the United The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation are the Bitterroot Salish, Kootenai and Pend d'Oreilles Tribes A missionary is a member of a Religion who works to convert those who do not share the missionary's faith someone who proselytizes. The cassock, an item of Clerical clothing, is a long close-fitting ankle-length Robe worn by clerics of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox
1845-1846 expedition
One of DeSmet's longest explorations began in August 1845. He started from Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho and crossed country into the Kootenay River valley. Lake Pend Oreille is a Lake in the northern Idaho Panhandle, with a surface area of 148 square miles The State of Idaho ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States of America. The Kootenay River (spelled Kootenai River for its American portions is the uppermost major tributary of the Columbia River, flowing through British Columbia From there he followed the valley, eventually crossing over to the source of the Columbia River. The Columbia River (known as He then traversed a portion of that valley, followed Sinclair Pass, recrossed the Kootenay and using White Man’s Pass reached the Bow River valley. Sinclair Pass (el 1486 m is a high Mountain pass in Kootenay National Park in the province of British Columbia in Canada The Bow River is a river in the Canadian province of Alberta. He would have been near the site of present-day Canmore, Alberta. Canmore is a Town in Alberta, Canada, located in the Bow Valley with a permanent population of 12005 From there he headed north to Rocky Mountain House. Rocky Mountain House is a Town in west- Central Alberta, Canada, at the confluence of the Clearwater By this time it was October and he fulfilled one of his goals; to meet with the Crees, Chippewas, and Blackfeet of the area. Not to be confused with the Creek. Cree is an Exonym applied to various people indigenous to North America namely the Nehiyaw Nehithaw Nehilaw The Ojibwa or Chippewa (also Ojibwe, Ojibway, Chippeway) is the largest group of Native Americans - First Nations At the end of the month, De Smet traveled to the east to search for more Natives. He was fortunate to find his way back to Rocky Mountain House and was guided from there to Fort Edmonton where he spent the winter of 1845-1846. Fort Edmonton (also named Edmonton House was the name of a series of trading posts of the Hudson's Bay Company from 1795 to 1891 all of which were located in central
The spring saw DeSmet's return trip carrying him to Jasper House and, with terrible suffering, reaching the Columbia River and Fort Vancouver. Fort Vancouver was a 19th century fur trading outpost along the Columbia River that served as the headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company in the company's He returned to his mission at Sainte-Marie on the Bitterroot River and then returned to St. The Bitterroot River is a Tributary of the Clark Fork River in southwestern Montana, USA. Louis. His time as a missionary in the Rockies was over.
Later years
In his remaining years, he was active in work regarding the missions he helped establish and fund. In 1868 he persuaded Sitting Bull to accept the subsequent Treaty of Fort Laramie. Sitting Bull ( Lakota: Tȟatȟaŋka Iyotȟaŋka or Ta-Tanka I-Yotank, also nicknamed Slon-he or "Slow" Ca The Treaty of Fort Laramie (also called the Sioux Treaty of 1868) was an agreement between the United States and the Lakota nation Yanktonai
He died in St. Louis, Missouri and is buried in nearby Florissant. See also Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument and Florissant Colorado.
Namesakes
DeSmet, Idaho, DeSmet, Montana (an unincorporated place near the Missoula International Airport), and De Smet, South Dakota are named in honor of him, as is De Smet Jesuit High School in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Missoula International Airport/Johnson Bell Field is a public Airport located four miles (6 km) northwest of the city of Missoula in Missoula De Smet is a city in and the County seat of Kingsbury County, South Dakota, United States. Namesake (sometimes "name's sake" is a term used to characterize a person place thing quality action state or idea that is called after or named out of regard to De Smet Jesuit High School is a private college preparatory school for boys governed by the Society of Jesus. Creve Coeur, derived from French for "broken heart" ( Crève Cœur) is a city in west St
References
External links
- Biography from 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia
- Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
- Biography at Biographies and other publications of Father De Smet from http://users.skynet.be