Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix
Encyclopedia
Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix (29 October 1682 – 1 February 1761) was a French
Jesuit traveller and historian
distinguished as the first historian of New France
.
He was born at Saint-Quentin
in the province of Picardy. He was descended from a line of lesser nobliity. His father held the post of deputy attorney general, and ancestors had served in positions in great trust and responsibility. At the age of sixteen he entered the Society of Jesus
; and at the age of twenty-three was sent to Canada
, where he remained for four years as professor at Quebec
. He then returned and became professor of belles lettres at home, and travelled on the errands of his society in various countries.
In 1720-1722, under orders from the regent
, he visited North America for the second time, and went along the Great Lakes
, down the Mississippi River
, and later into the West Indies. In later years (1733–1755) he was one of the directors of the Journal de Trewux. He died at La Flèche
on 1 February 1761.
His works, enumerated in the Bibliographie des Peres de la Compagnie de Jesus (by Carlos Sommervogel
), fall into two groups.
The first contains works on Japan:
The second group includes his historical work on America:
refers to "old Charlevoix" as the source of the episode concerning Sebastián Hurtado de Corcuera
and Lucia Miranda in his 1855 novel, Westward Ho!
, set in the time of the Spanish Armada
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Jesuit traveller and historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
distinguished as the first historian of New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
.
He was born at Saint-Quentin
Saint-Quentin, Aisne
Saint-Quentin is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France. It has been identified as the Augusta Veromanduorum of antiquity. It is named after Saint Quentin, who is said to have been martyred here in the 3rd century....
in the province of Picardy. He was descended from a line of lesser nobliity. His father held the post of deputy attorney general, and ancestors had served in positions in great trust and responsibility. At the age of sixteen he entered the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
; and at the age of twenty-three was sent to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where he remained for four years as professor at Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. He then returned and became professor of belles lettres at home, and travelled on the errands of his society in various countries.
In 1720-1722, under orders from the regent
Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
Philippe d'Orléans was a member of the royal family of France and served as Regent of the Kingdom from 1715 to 1723. Born at his father's palace at Saint-Cloud, he was known from birth under the title of Duke of Chartres...
, he visited North America for the second time, and went along the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
, down the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, and later into the West Indies. In later years (1733–1755) he was one of the directors of the Journal de Trewux. He died at La Flèche
La Flèche
La Flèche is a municipality located in the French department of Sarthe and the region of Pays de la Loire in the Loire Valley. This is the sub-prefecture of the South-Sarthe, the chief district and the chief city of a canton. This is the second most populous city of the department. The city is part...
on 1 February 1761.
His works, enumerated in the Bibliographie des Peres de la Compagnie de Jesus (by Carlos Sommervogel
Carlos Sommervogel
Carlos Sommervogel was a French Jesuit scholar. He was author of the monumental Bibliothèque de la Compagnie de Jésus, which served as one of the major references for the editors of the Catholic Encyclopedia....
), fall into two groups.
The first contains works on Japan:
- Histoire de l'établissement, du progrès et de la décadence du Christianisme dans I'empire des japons (Rouen, 1715; English trans. History of the Church of Japan, 1715)
- Histoire et description générale du Japon (1736), a compilation chiefly from Engelbert KaempferEngelbert KaempferEngelbert Kaempfer , a German naturalist and physician is known for his tour of Russia, Persia, India, South-East Asia, and Japan between 1683 and 1693. He wrote two books about his travels...
.
The second group includes his historical work on America:
- Histoire de I'Isle Espagnole ou de Saint-Domingue (1730), based on manuscript memoirs of P. Jean-Baptiste Le Pers and original sources
- Histoire de Paraguay (1756)
- Vie de la Mère Marie de I'Incarnation, institutrice et première supérieure des Ursulines de la Nouvelle-France (1724)
- Histoire et description générale de la Nouvelle-France (1744; in English 1769; tr. J. G. Shea, 1866–1872), a work of capital importance for Canadian history.
Pop culture
Charles KingsleyCharles Kingsley
Charles Kingsley was an English priest of the Church of England, university professor, historian and novelist, particularly associated with the West Country and northeast Hampshire.-Life and character:...
refers to "old Charlevoix" as the source of the episode concerning Sebastián Hurtado de Corcuera
Sebastián Hurtado de Corcuera
Sebastián Hurtado de Corcuera was a Spanish soldier and colonial official. From 1632 to 1634 he was governor of Panama. From June 25, 1635 to August 11, 1644 he was governor of the Philippines. And from 1659 to his death in 1660 he was governor of the Canary Islands...
and Lucia Miranda in his 1855 novel, Westward Ho!
Westward Ho!
Westward Ho! is a seaside village near Bideford in Devon, England. The A39 road provides access from the towns of Barnstaple, Bideford and Bude...
, set in the time of the Spanish Armada
Spanish Armada
This article refers to the Battle of Gravelines, for the modern navy of Spain, see Spanish NavyThe Spanish Armada was the Spanish fleet that sailed against England under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia in 1588, with the intention of overthrowing Elizabeth I of England to stop English...
.
External links
- Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
- Catholic Encyclopedia article
- "Charlevoix, Pierre-François-Xavier de" in The Canadian Encyclopedia Online