This article is about the American soldier and politician. For the Canadian lawyer and executive, see Hubert Lacroix.
Hubert Lacroix or Le Croix (1778 or 1779 — September 14, 1827) was an American soldier, trader, and politician who fought in the War of 1812. He was captured by the British following the surrender of Detroit and saved from charges of treason by his friend, the Shawnee chief Tecumseh. Lacroix later served two terms as a member of the Michigan Territorial Council.
When Colonel John Anderson organized a local militia, Lacroix was the first man to enlist.[3] He was unanimously chosen as captain of his company in April 1812,[3][4] just prior to the outbreak of the War of 1812, and since he lived quite a ways upriver, Territorial Governor William Hull asked him to move closer to the mouth of the river. While his company built Hull's Trace to Fort Detroit[5] he began construction of a new house along the river within the boundaries of present-day Monroe, Michigan that spring. The house, still under construction, was burned on January 23, 1813, the final day of the Battle of the River Raisin.[4]
Following Hull's surrender of Detroit in August 1812, Lacroix was taken prisoner by the British.[3] Though his fellow militiamen had been paroled, since Lacroix had been born in Montreal, he was to face charges of treason there.[6] Lacroix had earlier established a friendship with the Shawnee chief Tecumseh, who was allied with the British. To avoid upsetting their ally, the British took Lacroix out of Detroit secretly by boat[2] and held him on a prison ship near Fort Malden, Ontario, to await transport back to Quebec.[3] Lacroix's daughter informed Tecumseh of her father's arrest, and Tecumseh went to ask British General Henry Procter about it. Though Procter was inclined to deny it, Tecumseh ordered him to tell the truth, saying, "If I ever detect you in a falsehood, I, along with my Indians, will immediately abandon you". Procter admitted to holding Lacroix prisoner and when Tecumseh demanded he be released, Procter complied.[2][7]
When Monroe County was organized in 1817, Lacroix was named a colonel in the militia as well as the county sheriff.[3] He built a new brick house on his destroyed property between 1817 and 1818, which may have been the first brick structure in the county; the house, near the site of the modern River Raisin National Battlefield Park, was destroyed in 1912.[3][4]
When the government of the Territory of Michigan was restructured to include a new legislative council, Lacroix was one of the top 18 vote-earners in a general election. Those names were sent to President James Monroe, who selected nine, including Lacroix, to form the First Michigan Territorial Council.[8] Lacroix also served on the second council.[9]
Following the end of the second council's session in April 1827, Lacroix walked home from Detroit to Monroe, and became ill due to exposure. After several months of illness, he died in Monroe on September 14, 1827.[3]
Antal, Sandy (1997), Wampum Denied: Procter's War of 1812, Carleton University Press, ISBN9780773574052, retrieved 2019-10-13
Carter, Clarence E., ed. (1943), The Territorial Papers of the United States, vol. 11, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, retrieved 2019-10-05
Eckert, Allen (1993), A Sorrow in our Heart: The Life of Tecumseh, New York: Bantam, ISBN9780553561746, retrieved 2019-10-05
Journal of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan: First Session—First Council, Detroit: Sheldon and Reed, 1824, retrieved 2019-10-13 – via HathiTrust
Legislative Council, State of Michigan (2017), Michigan Manual (2017–2018 ed.), Lansing: Legislative Service Bureau, ISBN978-1-878210-06-7, retrieved 2019-10-04
Seelye, Elizabeth E. (1878), Tecumseh and the Shawnee Prophet, Chicago: M. A. Donohue, retrieved 2019-10-13
"The history of one of Monroe's oldest homes", The Monroe News, Monroe, Michigan, February 21, 2018, retrieved 2019-10-13
Wing, Talcott E., ed. (1890), History of Monroe County, Michigan, New York: Munsell & Co., retrieved 2019-10-13
February 10, 2023
hubert, lacroix, american, politician, this, article, about, american, soldier, politician, canadian, lawyer, executive, hubert, lacroix, hubert, lacroix, croix, 1778, 1779, september, 1827, american, soldier, trader, politician, fought, 1812, captured, britis. This article is about the American soldier and politician For the Canadian lawyer and executive see Hubert Lacroix Hubert Lacroix or Le Croix 1778 or 1779 September 14 1827 was an American soldier trader and politician who fought in the War of 1812 He was captured by the British following the surrender of Detroit and saved from charges of treason by his friend the Shawnee chief Tecumseh Lacroix later served two terms as a member of the Michigan Territorial Council Hubert LacroixPersonal detailsBorn1778 1779Montreal Quebec CanadaDiedSeptember 14 1827 aged 48 Monroe Michigan U S Biography EditHubert Lacroix was a native of Montreal born in either 1778 or 1779 He settled along the River Raisin in Michigan Territory in 1800 1 became an American citizen and engaged in trade as an employee of the North West Fur Company 2 When Colonel John Anderson organized a local militia Lacroix was the first man to enlist 3 He was unanimously chosen as captain of his company in April 1812 3 4 just prior to the outbreak of the War of 1812 and since he lived quite a ways upriver Territorial Governor William Hull asked him to move closer to the mouth of the river While his company built Hull s Trace to Fort Detroit 5 he began construction of a new house along the river within the boundaries of present day Monroe Michigan that spring The house still under construction was burned on January 23 1813 the final day of the Battle of the River Raisin 4 Following Hull s surrender of Detroit in August 1812 Lacroix was taken prisoner by the British 3 Though his fellow militiamen had been paroled since Lacroix had been born in Montreal he was to face charges of treason there 6 Lacroix had earlier established a friendship with the Shawnee chief Tecumseh who was allied with the British To avoid upsetting their ally the British took Lacroix out of Detroit secretly by boat 2 and held him on a prison ship near Fort Malden Ontario to await transport back to Quebec 3 Lacroix s daughter informed Tecumseh of her father s arrest and Tecumseh went to ask British General Henry Procter about it Though Procter was inclined to deny it Tecumseh ordered him to tell the truth saying If I ever detect you in a falsehood I along with my Indians will immediately abandon you Procter admitted to holding Lacroix prisoner and when Tecumseh demanded he be released Procter complied 2 7 When Monroe County was organized in 1817 Lacroix was named a colonel in the militia as well as the county sheriff 3 He built a new brick house on his destroyed property between 1817 and 1818 which may have been the first brick structure in the county the house near the site of the modern River Raisin National Battlefield Park was destroyed in 1912 3 4 When the government of the Territory of Michigan was restructured to include a new legislative council Lacroix was one of the top 18 vote earners in a general election Those names were sent to President James Monroe who selected nine including Lacroix to form the First Michigan Territorial Council 8 Lacroix also served on the second council 9 Following the end of the second council s session in April 1827 Lacroix walked home from Detroit to Monroe and became ill due to exposure After several months of illness he died in Monroe on September 14 1827 3 Notes Edit Wing 1890 pp 106 107 a b c Eckert 1993 p 736 a b c d e f g Wing 1890 p 107 a b c Monroe News 2018 https www2 dnr state mi us Publications PDFS ArcGISOnline StoryMaps mhc historical markers pdfs MHC822012021 pdf bare URL PDF Antal 1997 pp 115 116 Seelye 1878 pp 296 297 Carter 1943 p 487 Legislative Council 2017 p 250 References EditAntal Sandy 1997 Wampum Denied Procter s War of 1812 Carleton University Press ISBN 9780773574052 retrieved 2019 10 13 Carter Clarence E ed 1943 The Territorial Papers of the United States vol 11 Washington D C Government Printing Office retrieved 2019 10 05 Eckert Allen 1993 A Sorrow in our Heart The Life of Tecumseh New York Bantam ISBN 9780553561746 retrieved 2019 10 05 Journal of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan First Session First Council Detroit Sheldon and Reed 1824 retrieved 2019 10 13 via HathiTrust Legislative Council State of Michigan 2017 Michigan Manual 2017 2018 ed Lansing Legislative Service Bureau ISBN 978 1 878210 06 7 retrieved 2019 10 04 Seelye Elizabeth E 1878 Tecumseh and the Shawnee Prophet Chicago M A Donohue retrieved 2019 10 13 The history of one of Monroe s oldest homes The Monroe News Monroe Michigan February 21 2018 retrieved 2019 10 13 Wing Talcott E ed 1890 History of Monroe County Michigan New York Munsell amp Co retrieved 2019 10 13 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hubert Lacroix American politician amp oldid 1077100981, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
