The New Student's Reference Work/Tonty, Henri de

Ton′ty, Henri de, an Italian explorer of great resolution and courage and a companion of La Salle, was born about the middle of the 17th century and died at Fort Louis (Mobile) in 1704. He served both in the French army and the navy, was with La Salle in Canada, effected the first settlement in what now is Illinois, and accompanied La Salle on his famous voyage down the Mississippi to its mouth. He returned for supplies; and in 1686 again descended the Mississippi in search of La Salle. He is identified with the early history of Illinois (until 1702) and of Louisiana. His memoirs were published in Paris in 1897. Consult Parkman's Discovery of the Great West.