Background
La Ronde was Canadian-born, son of Pierre Denis de la Ronde and Catherine Le Neuf of Quebec.
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Louis Denis De La Ronde
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At the early age of thirteen Louis Denis entered the French navy and served therein for forty years as midshipman, lieutenant, and later as captain of a naval vessel. In 1689 he was a subordinate officer on the ship that carried James II to Ireland in his futile effort to regain his crown and took part in two naval contests off the Irish coast.
In 1692 La Ronde cruised along the New England coast, and three years later he was captured in a sea fight and spent a year in an Irish prison.
In 1697 he was with his fellow countryman Iberville on his desperate adventure in Hudson Bay and in 1700-01 accompanied his chief to Louisiana where he explored the Mississippi. In Queen Anne's War he took part in several naval battles, was wounded and shipwrecked. In 1711 he was sent on a secret mission to Boston.
Twelve years later he again visited Boston as an envoy and spent the winter there. Parkman states that he spoke English and made himself agreeable to the British colonists. In 1727 La Ronde, then captain in the Canadian army, was sent to command a post in Lake Superior on an island now called Madeline, in Chequamegon Bay. There he learned of the existence of copper mines in the vicinity and made proposals to the government to work them. It was 1733 before permission came from France and the next year La Ronde built at Sault Ste. Marie a sailing vessel of twenty-five tons, coasted along the lake shore, and sent samples of ore to Quebec.
In 1736 he went thither in person to see his ore assayed and persuaded the government to send him from Europe two competent miners, who in 1739 made a favorable report of the prospects. Meanwhile at Fort La Pointe, Madeline Island, La Ronde and his sons had built a substantial log enclosure, had imported cattle and horses, and had made the beginning of a settlement. All their plans were brought to naught by an Indian war which broke out in 1740. La Ronde went to Quebec and there died. La Ronde's life, full of adventure and incident, speaks of his energy and ability. At the time of his death he was senior captain in Canada and had been in the King's service over fifty years.
Achievements
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La Ronde was known as an explorer of the territories of Canada and North America at the end of 17th century and beginning of 18th century. He is remembered for participation in various naval battles during Queen Anne's War. He also helped to discover and exploit the former copper deposits at the Lake Superior region. For his service as envoy he received the cross of the order of St. Louis.
Connections
La Ronde married Marie Louise Chartier La Ronde on July 20, 1709. After his death she was granted the monopoly of Fort La Pointe and in 1744 leased it to a firm of fur-traders.
