1645 September 21:Louis Joliet was born in Quebec, Canada
Louis Joliet was the son of a wagon maker
Louis Joliet was well educated at a Jesuit school in Quebec but had an adventurous spirit and wanted to explore
Louis Joliet started his life as a fur trader with the Native Indians
1669 - 1671: Louis Joliet then tries his hand at copper mining
1672 October: Louis Joliet was commissioned by the French Governor of Quebec, Louis de Buade Frontenac (1620-1698), to join Father Jacques Marquette, a Jesuit priest, in an expedition exploring the Mississippi River
Joliet and Marquette make preparations for their expedition
1673 May: A seven man expedition including Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet set off in birch bark canoes to the north shore of Lake Michigan to Green Bay, then up the Fox River
1673 June: Louis Joliet and his party reach the Mississippi
Louis Joliet explored the Mississippi, meeting different Indian tribes
The expedition eventually realised that Mississippi River did not lead to the Pacific Ocean but flowed into the Gulf of Mexico
Father Jacques Marquette drew a map of the country through which they passed and kept a diary of the voyage of exploration
The expedition were warned of hostile Indians ahead and there was also the possibility of being captured by the Spanish - so the party decided to turn back towards Quebec
1674: The expedition led by Louis Joliet reached Lake Michigan where Father Jacques Marquette remained at the mission of Saint Francis Xavier at the head of Green Bay
1674: Louis Joliet went on to Quebec
Louis Joliet had paddled 2500 miles in his exploration of the Mississippi
1674 August: Louis Joliet arrived in Quebec
Louis Joliet reported the findings of the exploration of the Mississippi River to Governor Louis de Buade Frontenac
Louis Joliet was consulted in the Governor's plans to colonise the area of the Mississippi River as an extension of the lands of New France
1675 October 7: Louis Joliet married Claire-Francoise Bissot (1656 - 1710). Louis and Claire-Francoise had one child, Jean-Baptiste Joliet
1680: Louis Joliet was granted the Island of Anticosti by King Louis XIV of France as a reward for discovering the Mississippi River
The Island of Anticosti was situated right at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River and 8,000 square kilometres in size
Louis Joliet built a fort on the Island of Anticosti
1690: The fort was captured by the English and his wife was taken prisoner whilst Louis Joliet was absent on explorations in Labrador and around Hudson Bay
His wife was released and the fort was recaptured
1693: Louis Joliet was appointed royal hydrographer
1694: Louis Jolliet made another expedition exploring the coast of Labrador and visiting the Eskimos
1697 30 April: Louis Joliet was granted the seigniory (territory) of Joliet, south of Quebec, which is still in the possession of his descendants
1700 May: Louis Joliet died on the Island of Anticosti in Canada
