Career
He was fascinated by the wildlife and Native peoples of the New World, and is believed to have been the author of the hand-drawn book known as the Codex canadiensis, which documents these subjects. Louis Nicolas is the confirmed author of the books Histoire Naturelle des Indes Occidentales and the Grammaire algonquine. He returned to France in 1675 and historians believe that he died in 1682.
Louis Nicolas was born on August 15, 1634 in Aubenas, Vivarais, a commune in the Ardèche region of France.
In 1664, he arrived in Canada, where his order was sent to convert the Aboriginal peoples. As he travelled from the western end of Lake Superior to September-Îles, and from Trois-Rivières to the South of Lake Ontario, Louis Nicolas’ interest in Aboriginal languages and culture increased.
Nonetheless, according to the Relations Jésuites, Nicolas did not always behave accordingly towards the native peoples. In 1675, Louis Nicolas left Canada and returned to France.
As nothing more was heard of him after his departure, the year of his death is unknown.