Richard, Gabriel, 1767-1832

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French priest and missionary in Detroit, Michigan; also co-founder of the Catholepistemiad (or University of Michigan).

From the description of Gabriel Richard papers, 1792-1832. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34420837

Richard was born at Saintes, France on Oct. 15, 1767. He was well educated and became a priest of the Sulpitians, a society devoted to the care of young men for the sanctuary in 1791. In 1792 he came to Baltimore (Md.), moving to Detroit (Mich.) as a permanent pastor in 1798. There, he promoted education and religion. He opened a school for young men in 1804 and one for ladies in 1805. He brought a printing press overland from Baltimore and in Aug. 1809 published the first newspaper west of the Allegheny Mountains. In the same year he published the first prayer book for the same area. He had the first organ in Michigan, for which he composed music. Taken captive at Sandwich (Canada) in 1812 he saved many prisoners from Indian tortures with his eloquence and influence. In 1823 he was elected as a delegate to Congress. He fought for grants to create Fort Gratiot, Pontiac, Grand River, and Chicago Roads. On Sept. 13, 1832 Richard died while caring for victims of Detroit's massive cholera epidemic. (For further information see the finding aid and related collections at the Clarke Historical Library.).

From the description of Collection, 1792-1881. (Clarke Historical Library). WorldCat record id: 41321169

b. 1767; d. 1833. Priest and educator.

Gabriel Richard, the son of Francis and Genevieve Bossuet Richard, was born at Saintes, France on October 15, 1767. He was ordained as a priest on Oct. 15, 1791. Leaving France in 1792, Father Richard sailed to Baltimore and was sent by Bishop Carroll as a missionary to the Indians in the Northwest Territory. In June 1789, he arrived in Detroit and became pastor of St. Annes Church. Fr. Richard was a pioneer in many fields. He established Indian schools as Green Bay, Arbre, Croche and St. Joseph's and established the first printing press in the Northwest Territory in 1809, publishing extensively. He was active in every kind of religious, educational, and charitable enterprise; and in 1823 was elected to Congress from Michigan Territory. Fr. Gabriel Richard died while helping victims of the cholera epidemic in Detroit on Sept. 13, 1832.

From the description of Gabriel Richard papers, 1784-1833. (Detroit Public Library). WorldCat record id: 294848530

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Catholic Church. Diocese of Québec. Correspondence, 1767-1838. University of Notre Dame, Hesburgh Library
referencedIn Alumni Association (University of Michigan), Individual Photographs, ca. 1880-ca. 1960s Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852. Daniel Webster correspondence, 1824-1852 Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Whiting, Henry, 1788-1851. Henry Whiting papers, 1828-1859. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn Ste. Anne's Church (Detroit, Mich.). Collection, 1701,1836. Clarke Historical Library
referencedIn Ste. Anne's Church (Detroit, Mich.). Church account book, 1831,1836. Clarke Historical Library
creatorOf Venerable English College (Rome, Italy). Correspondence, 1821-1835. University of Notre Dame, Hesburgh Library
creatorOf Mount St. Mary's College and Seminary Records, 1810-1840 University of Notre Dame, Hesburgh Library
creatorOf Richard, Gabriel, 1767-1832. Gabriel Richard papers, 1784-1833. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn Navarre-Williams family papers, 1815-1948. University of Toledo, William S. Carlson Library
referencedIn Connely, Mildred M. Papers of Mildred Connely, 1792-1962. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn Navarre family. Navarre family papers, 1791-1858. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932. Clarence M. Burton papers, 1904-1907 and 1922-1923. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Woodford, Frank Bury, 1903-1967. Frank Bury Woodford papers, 1940-1967. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Dept. of Journalism (University of Michigan) research papers, 1967-1978 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Campbell, James V. (James Valentine), 1823-1890. Papers, 1823-1881. Clarke Historical Library
referencedIn White, Elmer E. Children of the Chippewa, Ottawa and Potawatomy Tribes, et. al., petitioners, vs. Regents of the University of Michigan, respondent : express trial brief and exhibits B and C, 1978. Clarke Historical Library
creatorOf Richard, Gabriel, 1767-1832. Collection, 1792-1881. Clarke Historical Library
referencedIn Frank B. Woodford papers, 1940-1967 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Richard, Gabriel, 1767-1832. Gabriel Richard papers, 1792-1832. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn WUOM records, 1914-1982, 1940s-1960s Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Hickey, Edward J. (Edward John), b. 1893. Edward John Hickey papers, 1893 Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn Mast, Dolorita. Always the priest; the life of Gabriel Richard, S.S., 1960. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Catholic Church. Archdiocese of Saint Louis (Mo.). Collection, 1764-1912. University of Notre Dame, Hesburgh Library
referencedIn Lawler, William F., 1887-1943. William F. Lawler papers, 1761-1941. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn Navarre, Francis, 1763 Oct. 12-1826 Sept. 1. Papers, 1792-1899. Clarke Historical Library
creatorOf Clay, Henry, 1777-1852. Henry Clay correspondence, 1807-1852 Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn Dain, Floyd Russell, 1900-. Floyd Russell Dain statement, 1978. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Baisnée, Jules Albert, 1879-. The early years of Gabriel Richard, ca. 1951. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Catholic Church. Archdiocese of Detroit (Mich.). Collection, 1797-1870. University of Notre Dame, Hesburgh Library
referencedIn University of Michigan. Dept. of Journalism. Dept. of Journalism (University of Michigan) research papers, 1967-1978. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Dept. of History (University of Michigan) student papers, 1930-1987 Bentley Historical Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Baisnée, Jules Albert, 1879- person
associatedWith Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932. person
associatedWith Campbell, James V. (James Valentine), 1823-1890. person
associatedWith Catholic Church corporateBody
associatedWith Catholic Church. Archdiocese of Detroit (Mich.) corporateBody
associatedWith Catholic Church. Archdiocese of Saint Louis (Mo.) corporateBody
associatedWith Catholic Church. Diocese of Québec. corporateBody
associatedWith Clay, Henry, 1777-1852. person
associatedWith Connely, Mildred M. person
associatedWith Dain, Floyd Russell, 1900- person
associatedWith Fraser, Alexander, 1796-1877. person
associatedWith Hickey, Edward J. (Edward John), b. 1893. person
associatedWith Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. person
associatedWith Lawler, William F., 1887-1943 person
associatedWith Madison, James, 1751-1836. person
associatedWith Mast, Dolorita. person
associatedWith Mount Saint Mary's College (Emmitsburg, Md.) corporateBody
associatedWith Navarre family. family
associatedWith Navarre, Francis, 1763-1826. person
associatedWith Richard Press. corporateBody
associatedWith Ste. Anne's Church (Detroit, Mich.) corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Alumni Association. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Dept. of History. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Dept. of Journalism. corporateBody
associatedWith Venerable English College (Rome, Italy) corporateBody
associatedWith Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852. person
associatedWith White, Elmer E. person
associatedWith Whiting, Henry, 1788-1851. person
associatedWith Woodbridge, William, 1743-1826. person
associatedWith Woodford, Frank Bury, 1903-1967. person
associatedWith WUOM (Radio station : Ann Arbor, Mich.) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Michigan
Detroit (Mich.)
Detroit (Mich.)
Subject
Clergy
French Americans
Legislators
Missions
Occupation
Educators
Legislators
Missionaries
Priests
Professor
Activity

Person

Birth 1767-10-15

Death 1832-09-13

Information

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SNAC ID: 62264907