GROSEILLERS, Medard Chouart, Slant DE, Franco-American trader and explorer: b. Charly-Saint Cyr, near Meaux, 1621; d. about 1684. He came to Canada and soon earned the reputation of an intrepid explorer. He was a brother-in-law of the equally famous Radisson. The two formed an expedition and set out for Lake Nipissing in 1658 and spent the winter at Green Bay. Before the spring of 1659 their In dian guides led them across what is now Wis consin as far as the upper Mississippi, thus i discovering the great Northwest. Late in the spring they continued their westward between the Mississippi and the Missouri, visited the Sioux, and learned of the Crees and other tribes to the westward and even of the Spaniards to the far south. To just what point this west ward journey lay is to-day a matter of con jecture. Their journey homeward to Quebec was beset with many dangers, the Iroquois be ing on the warpath. A second trip to the Northwest was made in 1661 for fur-trading purposes. Difficulties with the governor of New France led to the fining and imnrisonment of Groseillers on his return in 1663. Groseillers "rent to France to seek reparation, but nothing was done. He hurried back to Three Rivers in 1664, thence with Radisson he took secret passage to Isle Percee, where he had been told a ship would be sent from La Rochelle. Dis
gusted with the treatment accorded them, they resolved to leave the,country and departed for Port Royal, Nova Scotia. Groseillers and his brother-in-law are next heard of in Boston try ing to get a ship for an expedition to Hudson's Bay. On a voyage to England they were set upon by a Dutch cruiser, were captured and landed in Spain. In 1666 they reached London, and in 1667 were received at Windsor by King Charles. After much delay Prince Rupert financed another expedition for the intrepid Frenchmen, and a year, 1668-69, was spent on a trading expedition. The success of the voyage. brought about the formation of a fur company which in 1670 was chartered as the Hudson's Bay Company. After being accused of double dealing Groseillers retired for a time to Three Rivers, but was soon summoned by Radisson to join an expedition of private French interests to the Hayes oiver in 1681-82. His latter days were embittered by the jealousy of other trad ers and by numerous lawsuits. His petition to the French court for redress of his wrongs was ignored and at length he gave up the struggle and retired to Three Rivers.