Nicolas-Ignace de Beaubois

Nicolas-Ignace de Beaubois (October 15, 1689 – January 13, 1770) was a French Jesuit priest and missionary who joined the Canadian mission in Quebec in 1719. In 1724, he became the superior of the Mississippi Valley colony and missions. In 1727, he settled in New Orleans. He returned to France in 1735, where he was an agent and fund-raiser for American missions, a minister, and an organizer of Jesuit spiritual retreats.

Early life and career Nicolas-Ignace de Beaubois was born at Orléans, France on October 15, 1689. On October 29, 1706, Beaubois was admitted to the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), and he made his noviciate in Paris. For two years he continued philosophical studies. Beginning in the fall of 1710, he taught boys in Rennes for three years and then taught a year at Alençon. promoted developing relationships with Native Americans promoted revenue-producing sugar cane and indigo plantations for missions stressed the strategic importance of the Ohio River as English settlers moved west was instrumental in gaining royal approval for digging a canal from the edge of New Orleans to Rivière d'Orléans (Bayou St. John), which was accomplished under the Spanish regime