Jerome Lalemant

Jerome Lalemant

Alias Hierosme.

Jesuit missionary, b. at Paris, 27 April, 1593, d. at Quebec, 16 November, 1665. He entered the order at Paris, 2 October, 1610. Arriving in Canada 25 June, 1638, he immediately went to the Huron missions as superior. He took the first regular census of the Indians, instituted the organization of the donnés or lay assistants of the missionaries, and re-arranged the different missionary posts making the new establishment of St. Mary's on the Wye the central one. In 1645 he returned to Quebec as general superior. In 1656 he was recalled to France and in 1658 was made rector of the Royal college of La Flèche; but was hardly installed when he was asked for by Laval as Vicar-General of Quebec. He returned with Laval in 1659 and acted as his vicar during all the troubles with the Governors d'Argenson, d'Avaugour, and de Mesy, and also with de Queylus who was an aspirant for the Bishopric of Quebec. He remained superior and vicar-general until the end of his life. He wrote many of the "Relations", and also most of the only volume we have of the "Journal des Jésuites".

T.J. CAMPBELL