Description: (French Jesuit Missionary Who Founded Michigan’s First European Settlement)
Jacques Marquette, S.J., a French Jesuit missionary, founded Michigan's first European settlement at Sault Sainte Marie and later established Saint Ignace. In 1673, he joined explorer Louis Jolliet to become the first European to explore and map the northern part of the Mississippi River Valley. Marquette's professional endeavors focused on missionary work, exploration, and mapping in North America, playing a crucial role in the region's understanding and colonization during the 17th century.