Nicolet (Nicollet) was born in Cherbourg-Octeville, France, in the late 1590s, the son of Thomas Nicollet, who was "messenger ordinary of the King between Paris and Cherbourg", and Marguerite de Lamer. They were members of the Roman Catholic Church.
He was taken to Canada in 1618 by Samuel de Champlain. Because of his aptitude for languages and his adventurous spirit, young Nicolet spent two years along the upper Ottawa River among the Algonquins, learning their language and customs. He later dwelt eight or nine years with the Nipissing, was made a member of the tribe, and took part in their councils. He remained with them while the English occupied Quebec from 1629 to 1632. After an absence of 15 years Nicolet returned to Quebec, where he became clerk and interpreter of the Company of One Hundred Associates. He explored Lake Michigan in 1634 as far as Green Bay, ascending the bay and the Fox River to a Indian village west of Lake Winnebago, where he concluded a treaty of peace with the Winnebago. Returning again to Quebec in 1635, he took up his residence at Trois-Rivières, the chief trading post in the French colony, where he acted as agent and interpreter for the trading company. By establishing friendly relations with the Winnebago and Mascouten, he contributed to the establishment of the Nipissing route for the northwestern fur trade. Nicolet was drowned in 1642 on his way to save the life of an Iroquois being tortured by Algonquins. Jean Nicolet drowned after his boat capsized during a storm while traveling.
He was a French coureur des bois noted for discovering and exploring Lake Michigan, Mackinac Island, Green Bay , and being the first European to step foot in what is now the U. S. state of Wisconsin.
The city of Nicolet, Quebec was named after him. Nicolet Area Technical College in Rhinelander, Wisconsin bears his name. Nicolet High School in suburban Milwaukee was named after him. In 1950, a statue of him was erected and is now located at Wequiock Falls County Park, about 10 miles northeast of Green Bay and a mile from where it is believed he landed. Nicolet's landing at Red Banks is commemorated by a 1910 mural at the Neville Public Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin. In 1906, the Jean Nicolet Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution was organized. Nicolet National Bank bears his name. Nicolet National Forest in northern Wisconsin bears his name.
