Fort Bourbon

(Did you mean a different Fort Bourbon)

Fort Bourbon (1741-1750, 1750-1758) - A French fur trading fort established in 1741 for Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye near present day Grand Rapids, Manitoba. The actual builder was probably Philippe Leduc. Abandoned in 1750 and replaced by a second Fort Bourbon at Cedar Lake in 1750. The second Fort Bourbon was destroyed in 1758 during the French & Indian War.

Fort Bourbon #1

Established as a French fur trading fort in 1741, just below the "grand rapids" of the Saskatchewan River, just west of the Lake Winnipeg shore. The fort was sited by the youngest La Vérendrye son, Louis-Joseph. The father then sent an expedition of some 12 men to establish the fort in 1741. The actual builder was probably Philippe Leduc, a clerk or partner of La Verendrye. This Fort Bourbon was abandoned in 1750.

Fort Bourbon #2

There is much confusion over the location(s) of the various Fort Bourbons made even more difficult by a map makers error that placed a Fort Bourbon on the Red Deer River. A second Fort Bourbon was built at Cedar Lake and that lake was renamed Lake Bourbon. At the time of La Verendrye's death in December, 1749, Fort Bourbon was still in its original location but was soon abandoned in 1750. The second French Fort Bourbon at Cedar Lake lasted from 1750 to 1758. It was pillaged and burned down by Indians in 1758 during the French & Indian War and was not rebuilt.

**La Vérendrye Family Built Forts** (edit list)
Name	Start	Stop	Place	State	Est By	GPS
Fort St. Pierre	1731	1758	Fort Francis	ON	Jean-Baptiste	48.6166, -93.35681
Fort St. Charles	1732	1754	Magnusons Island	MN	Pierre	49.36181, -94.98094
Fort Maurepas	1734	1737	Selkirk	MB	Jean-Baptiste	50.29194, -96.86683
Fort Maurepas	1739	1760	Fort Alexander	MB		50.60904, -96.29334
Fort La Reine	1737	1753	Portage la Prairie	MB	Pierre Gaultier	49.9513, -98.32703
Fort Rouge	1738	1753	Winnipeg	MB	Pierre Gaultier	49.88508, -97.12988
Fort Dauphin	1741	1759	Winnipegosis	MB	Pierre Gaultier	51.6546, -99.9238
Fort Bourbon	1741	1750	Grand Rapids	MB	Philippe Leduc	53.1857, -99.2625
Fort Paskoya	1741	1759	Fort Island	MB		53.507, -100.651

Sources:

Manitoba Historical Society - The Vérendryes and Their Successors, 1727-1760

Current Status

Unknown.

Context

Location: Grand Rapids, Manitoba.
Lat: 53.186° Long: -99.262° Bing, Google, OldMapsOnline, USGS, OHM

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See Also:

French & Indian War

Sources:

Manitoba Historical Society - Grand Rapids - An Old Historical Spot, 1727-1760
Wade, Mark S., Mackenzie of Canada:The Life and Adventures of Alexander Mackenzie, Discoverer, William Blackwood & Sons Ltd., Edinburgh and London, 1927, Online

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