Charles Michel de Langlade

Charles Michel de Langlade (9 May 1729 – After 26 July 1801) was a Great Lakes fur trader and warrior of French Canadian and Ottawa heritage.

He led forces in warfare in the region for the French, British and Americans. Leading French and Indian forces, in 1752 he destroyed Pickawillany, a Miami village and British trading post in present-day Ohio. He helped defend Fort Duquesne against the British in the Seven Years War, when he was named second in command at Fort Michilimackinac and a captain in the Indian Department.

After the defeat of the French in North America, Langlade became allied with the British and led Great Lakes Indians for them during the American Revolutionary War. At the end of the war, he retired to his home in present-day Green Bay, Wisconsin. Due to his trading post at Green Bay since 1745, he is called the "Father of Wisconsin."

Early life and education
Charles de Langlade was born at Fort Michilimackinac, New France to Domitilde, a sister of the Ottawa war chief Nissowaquet, and Augustin Langlade, a fur trader. The Ottawa were among the Anishinaabeg peoples, who inhabited areas around the Great Lakes. As a child, Langlade grew up with Ottawa as his first language and was educated in French by Jesuit missionaries.

Career
In 1745, Charles Langlade and his father established a trading post at present-day Green Bay, Wisconsin.

On 21 June 1752, Charles Langlade led the Raid on Pickawillany, destroying the Miami village. The conflict contributed to the battles in North America of the French and Indian War (also known as the Seven Years War, as it was part of the European conflict.) In 1755, he led a group from the Three Fires confederacy in the defense of Fort Duquesne, where the French and Indians triumphed over the British Edward Braddock and George Washington at the Battle of the Monongahela. He also took part in the Siege of Fort William Henry and led a group of Ottawa warriors at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.

In 1757, Langlade was made the second in command of the French forces at Fort Michilimackinac. Langlade surrendered the French forces at that fort to the British army in 1761. Langlade transferred his allegiance to Great Britain when the war ended in 1763. The following year he permanently moved to (present day) Green Bay, Wisconsin.

During the American Revolutionary War, Langlade led Great Lakes Indians as an ally of the British commanders in Canada, and was promoted to captain in the Indian Department. At the end of that war, Langlade returned to his home in at Green Bay, Northwest Territory, where he resided until his death some time in the second half of 1801.

Legacy and honors

 * De Langlade is remembered as the "Father of Wisconsin".


 * Langlade County, Wisconsin is named after him.