Pierre-Jean De Smet

January 30, 1801 (age 72)

De Smet came to America in July 1821 and entered the novitiate of the Jesuit order established near Baltimore (at Whitemarsh) ten years earlier. In 1823 he was chosen for the new novitiate, the second in the United States, which was founded at Florissant near St. Louis and which became the Catholic University of St. Louis. He was ordained in 1827 and after devoting somewhat more than a decade to a round of priestly service, including several years spent in Europe to solicit reinforcements and supplies for his order ill America, he entered in 1838 upon his distinctive career as missionary to the Indians. His first mission was St. Joseph at the site of the later Council Bluffs, among the Potawatomi. In 1840 he was commissioned to survey the possibilities for Catholic missions in the Oregon country. From that time the scope of his activities widened to include the Pacific Northwest as well as the great plains; for all of which work he sought support in the eastern cities, in New Orleans, in Ireland, England, Holland, Belgium, France, and Italy. In carrying out his great projects he traveled 180, 000 miles. He crossed the Atlantic sixteen times, and once he sailed from Europe around Cape Horn and up the Pacific coast to Oregon. He aided the Catholic mission established in the Willamette Valley by Canadian priests—Fathers Blanchet and Demers; he founded, in September 1841, St. Mary’s Mission among the Flatheads; also the Mission of St. Ignatius among the Kalispels; later he planted the Sacred Heart Mission of the Coeur d’Alenes; he touched with his unique regenerative influence nearly all the native populations of the Columbia Valley. This work was accomplished mainly between the years 1840 and 1846. In his travels to the far West, Father De Smet made the acquaintance also of the Sioux, the Blackfeet, and other tribes east of the Rockies, all of whom held “Blackrobe” in highest esteem. Accordingly, when troubles arose among rival tribes, he was the one man who could hope to bring peace. Also, when the Indians, goaded by ill treatment at the hands of Indian agents or of traders, actually broke bonds and went on the war-path against the whites, Father De Smet was the final resource as mediator. In 1851 he attended the great council held near Fort Laramie, and aided powerfully to bring about a general understanding among the tribes who had become restive under the flood of emigration through their country. He mediated also in the “Mormon War” and in the Yakima Indian War of 1858-59. But his most notable achievement in Indian diplomacy was in June 1868 when he visited in the Bighorn Valley the camp of Sitting Bull’s hostiles who had sworn to take the life of the first white man to show himself among them. There, again, as the reverend missionary who always held the scales even between the two races, he succeeded in paving the way for a conference and eventual peace. De Smet’s service in this supreme instance was performed quite independently of the government; the Indians, who were intent on attacking the American flag, yielding to the magic of his priestly emblem. He was quite as unable to see the merit of the work done by Protestant missionaries as they were to appreciate the value of Catholic missionary effort. And to the Indians of the great West he was the ambassador of Heaven—he was “Blackrobe. ”

Pierre-Jean De Smet

Edit Profile

Missionary

Background

Pierre-Jean De Smet was born on January 30, 1801 at Termonde, Belgium. He was the son of Josse-Arnaud De Smet and Marie-Jeanne Buydens De Smet.

Education

De Smet was educated at the seminary of Malines, where he distinguished himself both in his studies and in what was the contemporary equivalent of athletic sports.

Career

De Smet came to America in July 1821 and entered the novitiate of the Jesuit order established near Baltimore (at Whitemarsh) ten years earlier.

In 1823 he was chosen for the new novitiate, the second in the United States, which was founded at Florissant near St. Louis and which became the Catholic University of St. Louis.

He was ordained in 1827 and after devoting somewhat more than a decade to a round of priestly service, including several years spent in Europe to solicit reinforcements and supplies for his order ill America, he entered in 1838 upon his distinctive career as missionary to the Indians.

His first mission was St. Joseph at the site of the later Council Bluffs, among the Potawatomi. In 1840 he was commissioned to survey the possibilities for Catholic missions in the Oregon country. From that time the scope of his activities widened to include the Pacific Northwest as well as the great plains; for all of which work he sought support in the eastern cities, in New Orleans, in Ireland, England, Holland, Belgium, France, and Italy. In carrying out his great projects he traveled 180, 000 miles. He crossed the Atlantic sixteen times, and once he sailed from Europe around Cape Horn and up the Pacific coast to Oregon.

He aided the Catholic mission established in the Willamette Valley by Canadian priests—Fathers Blanchet and Demers; he founded, in September 1841, St. Mary’s Mission among the Flatheads; also the Mission of St. Ignatius among the Kalispels; later he planted the Sacred Heart Mission of the Coeur d’Alenes; he touched with his unique regenerative influence nearly all the native populations of the Columbia Valley. This work was accomplished mainly between the years 1840 and 1846.

In his travels to the far West, Father De Smet made the acquaintance also of the Sioux, the Blackfeet, and other tribes east of the Rockies, all of whom held “Blackrobe” in highest esteem.

Accordingly, when troubles arose among rival tribes, he was the one man who could hope to bring peace. Also, when the Indians, goaded by ill treatment at the hands of Indian agents or of traders, actually broke bonds and went on the war-path against the whites, Father De Smet was the final resource as mediator.

In 1851 he attended the great council held near Fort Laramie, and aided powerfully to bring about a general understanding among the tribes who had become restive under the flood of emigration through their country. He mediated also in the “Mormon War” and in the Yakima Indian War of 1858-59.

But his most notable achievement in Indian diplomacy was in June 1868 when he visited in the Bighorn Valley the camp of Sitting Bull’s hostiles who had sworn to take the life of the first white man to show himself among them. There, again, as the reverend missionary who always held the scales even between the two races, he succeeded in paving the way for a conference and eventual peace. De Smet’s service in this supreme instance was performed quite independently of the government; the Indians, who were intent on attacking the American flag, yielding to the magic of his priestly emblem.

He was quite as unable to see the merit of the work done by Protestant missionaries as they were to appreciate the value of Catholic missionary effort. And to the Indians of the great West he was the ambassador of Heaven—he was “Blackrobe. ”

Achievements

De Smet persuaded the Sioux war chief to participate in negotiations with the United States government for the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie.

Works

$De Smet\'s Oregon Missions: Reprint of New York Edition, 1847 (Travel in America) De Smet\'s Oregon Missions: Reprint of New York Edition, 1847 (Travel in America)$ Life, Letters and Travels of Father Pierre-Jean De Smet, S J: 1801-1873 Life, Letters and Travels of Father Pierre-Jean De Smet, S J: 1801-1873

Life, Letters and Travels of Father Pierre-Jean De Smet, S J: 1801-1873 Life, Letters and Travels of Father Pierre-Jean De Smet, S J: 1801-1873

book
- De Smet's Oregon Missions: Reprint of New York Edition, 1847 (Travel in America)
  ( The missionary's account of time spent in Oregon (and W...)
- Life, Letters and Travels of Father Pierre-Jean De Smet, S J: 1801-1873
  (The story of a Jesuit novice who ran a school for Native ...)
- book

Religion

Father De Smet was a zealous churchman, devoted to the promotion of the faith as he understood it. His kindly tolerance extended to all except religionists of non-Catholic persuasion.

Personality

De Smet's physical strength and prowess were remarkable and go far to explain the wonderful endurance with which he bore the almost inconceivable toils incident to his later missionary labors. His youthful friends called him “Samson. ” In stature he was medium, about five feet six inches, stockily built, muscular, and resilient. His countenance was oval, regular in outline, exceedingly handsome and benignant; the eyes were peculiarly luminous, expressing both shrewdness and spirituality. His weight tended to be excessive, around two hundred and ten pounds, which caused him at times to employ drastic reducing methods in order to keep fit for his taxing physical labors. Fie once fasted thirty days, thereby losing thirty-five pounds. His appearance and bearing w'ere so friendly, his actions so frank and trust-inspiring, that red men of all tribes and whites of every nationality instinctively confided in him.

In practical matters he was efficient and business-like; in social intercourse cheerful, of charming address, fond of genial conversation, and full of a simple delightful humor.

Connections

Father:: Josse-Arnaud De Smet
Mother:: Marie-Jeanne Buydens De Smet

Main Photo