Cadillac, Antoine Laumet de Lamothe, 1658-1730

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French army officer and governor of Louisiana colony.

From the description of Antoine Laumet de Lamothe Cadillac memoir, 1692. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79456094

Fur trader, military officer, and founder of Detroit.

Born in Les Laumets, France in 1658, Cadillac was a trader and privateer in Acadia from 1683-1691, when he moved to Québec and received a commission in the naval troops. A protegé of Frontenac, he served as commandant at Michilimackinac from 1693-1697. He established a settlement at Detroit, where he remained from 1701-1710, to prevent English expansion, and to control the fur trade with Indian tribes to the west. He served as governor of Louisiana from 1710-1717, before returning to France in 1718.

From the description of Relation du Sieur de la Motte Cadillac : capitaine en pied aiant une compagnie de la marine en Canada, cy devant commandant de Missilimakinak et autres postes eloignée ou il a eté pendant trois annees : ouvrage tres curieux, tiré sur l'original de l'auteur et non encore imprimé / par D ... D. 1718. (Newberry Library). WorldCat record id: 45369747

The founder of Detroit, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, was born in Languedoc, France in 1658, the son of Jean de la Mothe, a counselor in the parliament of Toulouse.

He came to Canada about 1683 and engaged in the fur trade. He married Therese de Guyon. In 1694 Cadillac was appointed to the command of Mackinac. In 1701 he founded Detroit and remained in command there until 1701. From 1712-1717, he was governor of Louisiana. Cadillac returned to France to become governor of Castel-Sarassen in Gascony, where he died on October 16, 1730.

From the description of Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac papers, 1658-1710. (Detroit Public Library). WorldCat record id: 277697652

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Franquelin, Jean Baptiste Louis. Carte de la ville, baye, et environs de Baston / par Iean Baptiste Louis Franquelin, hydrog. du roy, 1693. Verifiée par le Sr. de la Motte. William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Campbell, James Valentine, 1823-1890. James Valentine Campbell papers, 1803-1886 Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Cadillac, Antoine Laumet de Lamothe, 1658-1730. Inventory of goods found in the Sansquartier house, Detroit, Michigan : photostat copy, 1709 June 10. Wisconsin Historical Society Archives
referencedIn Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932. Clarence M. Burton papers, 1904-1907 and 1922-1923. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn A History of Michigan in Paintings, ca. 1964-1967 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Cadillac, Antoine Laumet de Lamothe, 1658-1730. Antoine Laumet de Lamothe Cadillac memoir, 1692. Library of Congress
referencedIn Monseignat, Charles de. Relation de ce qui s'est passé en Canada depuis le départ des vaissaux de l'année 1694 jusq'au départ des vaisseaux 1695 : manuscript, [not before 1695] Houghton Library
creatorOf Ruette d'Auteuil de Monceaux, François-Madeleine-Fortuné, 1657-1737. Proces verbal d'assemblée des trois estats habitans ce pays qui depute Mrs. D'Auteuil, Juchereau et Pacaud sur le castor : Québec, 1699 Oct. 3. Newberry Library
referencedIn Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902. Silas Farmer papers, 1830-1902. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Cadillac, Antoine Laumet de Lamothe, 1658-1730. Relation du s[eiu]r de Lamotte Cadillac cap[itai]ne en pied ayant une compagnie de la marine en Canadas si deuant commendant de Missillimakinak et autres postes dans le paÿs eloigné ou il a loté pendent 3 années : manuscript, [ca. 1718?] Houghton Library
creatorOf Cadillac, Antoine Laumet de Lamothe, 1658-1730. Letter, 1696. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Cadillac, Antoine Laumet de Lamothe, 1658-1730. Relation du Sieur de la Motte Cadillac : capitaine en pied aiant une compagnie de la marine en Canada, cy devant commandant de Missilimakinak et autres postes eloignée ou il a eté pendant trois annees : ouvrage tres curieux, tiré sur l'original de l'auteur et non encore imprimé / par D ... D. Newberry Library
creatorOf Raudot, Antoine Denis, 1679-1737. Memoranda on French colonies in America, including Canada, Louisiana, and the Carribean, [1702-1750]. Newberry Library
creatorOf Cadillac, Antoine Laumet de Lamothe, 1658-1730. Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac papers, 1658-1710. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932. person
associatedWith Campbell, James Valentine, 1823-1890 person
associatedWith Chasles, M. (Michel), 1793-1880, person
associatedWith D---D. person
associatedWith Edward E. Ayer Manuscript Collection (Newberry Library) corporateBody
associatedWith Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902. person
associatedWith Franquelin, Jean Baptiste Louis. person
associatedWith Monseignat, Charles de. person
associatedWith Newberry Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Thom, Robert A. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Great Lakes Region (North America)
Fort Michilimackinac (Mackinaw City, Mich.)
New France
Canada
New France
Louisiana
New England
Detroit (Mich.)
Michigan
Michigan
North America
Mississippi River Valley
France--Versailles
Louisiana
Mackinac Region (Mich.)
Subject
Fur trade
Indians of North America
Indians of North America
Manuscripts, French
Occupation
Army officers, French
Governors
Activity

Person

Birth 1658-03-05

Death 1730-10-16

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