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== British Post ==
== British Post ==
The British [[North West Company]] (NWC) established their trading post on the island in 1793, built by [[Michel Cadotte]]. It was taken over by the American Fur company about 1815 as the British relinquished their trading posts in America following the [[War of 1812]].
The British [[North West Company]] (NWC) established their trading post on the island in 1793, built by [[Michel Cadotte]]. It was taken over by the South West company about 1811 as the British looked for ways to keep operating their trading posts in America.  


== American Posts ==
== American Posts ==
The [[North West Company]] (NWC) post was taken over by the [[American Fur Company]] about 1815. About 1834 the American Fur Company moved its operation to present-day La Pointe because the anchorage at the old French Fort site was filling with sand. The new site became the headquarters for the Northern Outfit of the [[American Fur Company]]. The company declared bankruptcy in 1842 and ceased trading in 1847.
In 1811 American [[John Jacob Astor]] and some of the [[North West Company]] British partners formed the [[South West Company]] (SWC). The SWC was to operate the former NWC trading posts on the American side of Lake Superior giving them American and British ownership to avoid growing anti British sentiment in the United States. The NWC post at Madeline Island was one of these posts. The [[War of 1812]] negated this arrangement because the British came to control this area of the Great Lakes and Astor did not receive any profits from the continued operation of the affected trading posts during the war.
 
The [[South West Company]] (SWC) post was taken over by the [[American Fur Company]] about 1815 when the U.S. Congress passed a law forbiding foreign ownership of trading posts on American soil.  
 
About 1834 the American Fur Company moved its operation to present-day La Pointe because the lagoon at the old French Fort site was filling with sand. The new site became the headquarters for the Northern Outfit of the [[American Fur Company]]. The company declared bankruptcy in 1842 and ceased trading in 1847.


== Current Status ==
== Current Status ==
Line 79: Line 83:
'''Sources:'''  
'''Sources:'''  
* {{Roberts}}, page 852.
* {{Roberts}}, page 852.
* Means, Philip Ainsworth, Preliminary survey of the remains of the Chippewa settlements on La Pointe island, Wisconsin, Smithsonian Institution, 1917, 15 pages (Google Books)
* Means, Philip Ainsworth, '''''Preliminary survey of the remains of the Chippewa settlements on La Pointe island, Wisconsin''''', Smithsonian Institution, 1917, 15 pages (Google Books)
* Ross, Hamilton Nelson, '''''La Pointe: Village Outpost on Madeline Island''''', Wisconsin Historical Society Press, Madison, 2000, Paperback, ISBN:9780870203213, 200 pages.


'''Links:'''  
'''Links:'''  
* [https://www.northamericanforts.com/East/wi.html#lapointe North American Forts - Fort La Pointe]
* [https://www.northamericanforts.com/East/wi.html#lapointe North American Forts - Fort La Pointe]
* [https://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=57662 HMDB - Madrline Island Marker]
* [https://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=576 HMDB - Madrline Island Marker]


{{Visited|No}}
{{Visited|No}}

Revision as of 09:35, 9 February 2019


Fort La Pointe (1693-1698, 1718-1759, 1793-1815, 1815-1847) - A French Fur Trading Post and Fort established in 1693 near present-day La Pointe on Madeline Island, Ashland County, Wisconsin. Initially named Le Sueur's Fort after the builder. Le Sueur's Fort was abandoned in 1698. The French returned to the Island in 1718 and built Fort La Pointe but left again in 1759 as a result of the French defeat in the French & Indian War. The British North West Company (NWC) established their own trading post in 1793, built by Michel Cadotte. It was taken over by the American Fur Company (AFC) about 1815 as the British relinquished their trading posts in America. The AFC ceased trading in 1847.

La Pointe Fortifications & Trading Posts
Post Company Estab Closed GPS Notes
Le Sueur's Fort French 1693 1698 46.75991,
-90.75625
1st French Post
Fort La Pointe French 1718 1759 2nd French Post
La Pointe North West Company Post North West 1793 1811
La Pointe South West Company Post South West 1811 1815
La Pointe American Fur Company Post (1) American Fur 1815 1835 1st American Post
La Pointe American Fur Company Post (2) American Fur 1835 ???? 2nd American Post

French Posts

Le Sueur's Fort was a fortified French Fur Trading Post established near present-day La Pointe on Madeline Island, Wisconsin. Pierre Le Sueur was sent to Madeline Island to erect the trading post and fort in 1693. The post was garrisoned with a company of traders and some 30 soldiers under the command of La Gardeur de St. Pierre.

Le Sueur's Fort was abandoned in 1698. The French returned to the Island in 1718 and built Fort La Pointe. Fort La Pointe became New France's principal fur-trading post on Lake Superior, but the French had to leave in 1759 as a result of the French defeat in the French & Indian War.

The French forts were established on the southeast side of the island just above the point.

British Post

The British North West Company (NWC) established their trading post on the island in 1793, built by Michel Cadotte. It was taken over by the South West company about 1811 as the British looked for ways to keep operating their trading posts in America.

American Posts

In 1811 American John Jacob Astor and some of the North West Company British partners formed the South West Company (SWC). The SWC was to operate the former NWC trading posts on the American side of Lake Superior giving them American and British ownership to avoid growing anti British sentiment in the United States. The NWC post at Madeline Island was one of these posts. The War of 1812 negated this arrangement because the British came to control this area of the Great Lakes and Astor did not receive any profits from the continued operation of the affected trading posts during the war.

The South West Company (SWC) post was taken over by the American Fur Company about 1815 when the U.S. Congress passed a law forbiding foreign ownership of trading posts on American soil.

About 1834 the American Fur Company moved its operation to present-day La Pointe because the lagoon at the old French Fort site was filling with sand. The new site became the headquarters for the Northern Outfit of the American Fur Company. The company declared bankruptcy in 1842 and ceased trading in 1847.

Current Status

The first two fort sites have archeological remains only and the locations are not confirmed. The final site was located in the town of La Pointe and part of that site is now the Madeline Island Museum which incorporates a small 1835 warehouse from the historic American Fur Company complex.


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Location: La Pointe, Madeline Island, Ashland County, Wisconsin.

Maps & Images

Lat: 46.78030 Long: -90.78841


GPS Locations:

See Also:

Sources:

  • Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 852.
  • Means, Philip Ainsworth, Preliminary survey of the remains of the Chippewa settlements on La Pointe island, Wisconsin, Smithsonian Institution, 1917, 15 pages (Google Books)
  • Ross, Hamilton Nelson, La Pointe: Village Outpost on Madeline Island, Wisconsin Historical Society Press, Madison, 2000, Paperback, ISBN:9780870203213, 200 pages.

Links:

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