Fort Bourbon
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| Fort Bourbon | |
|---|---|
| Between the Grand Rapids, Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg, on the northern shore of the Saskatchewan or White River | |
| Built | 1741 |
| In use | 1741- |
| Controlled by | France, United Kingdom, Canada |
Fort Bourbon was one of the important northern forts that La Verendrye had built during his long tenure as commandant of the western forts. This was during the earliest exploration of the northwest and, besides trade, there was a strong desire to explore potential routes to the western sea.
An initial exploration of the area was undertaken by the youngest La Verendrye son, Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye, in 1737 but an epidemic of smallpox thwarted the mission. In 1740 Louis Joseph has a successful trip exploring the Saskatchewan River to a short distance west of Cedar Lake and mapping the site for the first Fort Paskoya at the west end of Cedar Lake. He headed back toward Lake Winnipeg mapping the area and established a site for the first Fort Bourbon. The map of 1740 indicated a site between the Grand Rapids, Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg, on the northern shore of the Saskatchewan or White River. His father then sent men in 1741 to establish the fort.
A second Fort Bourbon was established west of the original one a short time later.
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