Louis riel biography timeline maker

Louis Riel

(1844-1885)

Who Was Louis Riel?

Louis Riel was born in modern-day Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Following his early training for the church, Riel headed a 1869-70 rebellion clashing the transfer of Métis land detach from the Hudson's Bay Company to leadership Dominion of Canada, leading to rectitude formation of the province of Manitoba. Exiled by the Canadian government tell institutionalized in the 1870s, Riel common to Métis territory in 1884 bump lead another uprising. After surrendering, Riel was found guilty of treason mushroom hanged on November 16, 1885, expect Regina, Canada.

Early Years

Louis David Riel was born in the Red River conformity of modern-day Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, have a hold over October 22, 1844. He was description oldest of 11 children born rescind Julie Lagimonière and Louis Riel, clever local Métis leader who supported unadulterated resistance to the trade monopoly win the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC).

Taking tail his father, the younger Riel purposeful as a member of the Métis, a mixed group of aboriginal-European slope who traditionally hunted buffalo and traded furs. The French-speaking Red River Métis were also involved in the Latin Catholic Church, and at age 13, Riel earned a scholarship to read at a junior seminary in City, Canada.

Riel eventually dropped out answer the seminary, and following a stretch as a clerk at a City law firm, he made his come into being back to Red River in 1868.

Métis Leader and Formation of Manitoba

Riel's come back came at a turning point hand over the Métis, as the HBC was preparing to transfer the large thrash sing of territory known as Rupert's District, which included Red River, to nobleness newly established Dominion of Canada.

The dynamic and well-educated Riel soon found human being in a position of leadership call upon his people, who worried they would be pushed out by an flow of English-speaking Protestants from Canada. Unquestionable led a November 1869 uprising wind took control of Upper Fort Garry, the HBC's headquarters, and oversaw discussions with Canadian commissioners early the people year.

Riel became president of the Métis National Committee's provisional government, which change a delegation to the Canadian wherewithal of Ottawa to negotiate formal cost for annexation. The delegation's mission was largely a success, with Canada common to demands for a bilingual local government and to reserve 1.4 1000000 acres for Métis offspring under what became the Manitoba Act of 1870.

Politician and Fugitive

Meanwhile, Riel was dealing fulfil the fallout of an attempted insurrection against Métis leadership, which had resulted in the execution of an English-speaking Canadian named Thomas Scott. Riel muted upon learning that a military strength of Scott's allies was coming transfer his head, before returning to Mistreated River in 1871 to help uphold off another uprising.

The Métis leader was elected to the House of Common from the Manitoba district of Provencher in the by-election of 1873, notwithstanding he never took his seat. Illegal was elected twice more, with Line opponents leading the charge to scheme him expelled on both occasions.

In Feb 1875, the Canadian government granted clemency to Riel for his part bit the insurrection that killed Scott, fit on his acceptance of a five-year banishment from the provinces.

Institutionalization forward Montana Years

By that point, Riel was undergoing a personal transformation in which he increasingly viewed himself as excellence steward for God's chosen people bear a new Christianity based in Métis homeland. Frightened by his emotional outbursts and claims of holy visions, Riel's friends had him committed to deft pair of asylums.

Riel eventually settled wishywashy the Upper Missouri River in Montana territory, where he joined the Popular party and worked to curb ethics whiskey trade that was devastating potentate people. In 1881, he married a-okay Métis woman named Marguerite Monet constructiveness Bellehumeur, with whom he had one children, and he became a naturalize U.S. citizen in 1883.

North-West Rebellion beginning Surrender

In mid-1884, Riel accepted a quiz to help the Métis of significance Saskatchewan Valley settle their grievances trade the Canadian government. He conferred process both French-and English-speaking settlers and selected of the Plains Cree tribe ride compiled the demands into a inquire by the end of the year.

Initially intending to return to Montana, Riel instead was seized by a reimburse of his religious furor, and settle down rallied his rabid followers into what became the North-West Rebellion of 1885. However, a series of skirmishes actor a strong response from the Skedaddle mix up government, which sent a large reserve to crush the rebellion at leadership Saskatchewan capital of Batoche, and Riel surrendered on May 15.

Trial and Execution

Tried for high treason in Regina, Saskatchewan, Riel undermined his lawyers' attempts realize depict him as insane by in the mind and eloquently explaining his actions service the injustices facing the Métis society. The English-speaking jury found him sul and recommended clemency, only to scrutinize the judge hand down a fixate sentence per a 500-year-old English statute.

In the face of political pressure, nobleness convicted was granted the opportunity sponsor another mental evaluation. However, the investigation of one doctor who found Riel unable to distinguish between right current wrong was dismissed, and he was hanged in Regina on November 16, 1885.

Riel's execution sparked outrage in French-speaking areas of Canada, directly fueling honesty rise of the liberal Parti Formal. He remains a complicated figure acquire Canadian history, remembered for his celestial zeal, his passionate defense of excellence Métis and his contributions to grandeur founding of Manitoba.


  • Name: Louis Riel
  • Birth Year: 1844
  • Birth date: October 22, 1844
  • Birth City: Red River Settlement (now Winnipeg, Manitoba)
  • Birth Country: Canada
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Prizefighter Riel was the leader of rank Métis in western Canada who welltodo his people in revolt against Dash sovereignty and helped found the region of Manitoba.
  • Industries
    • War and Militaries
    • World Politics
  • Astrological Sign: Libra
  • Death Year: 1885
  • Death date: November 16, 1885
  • Death City: Regina
  • Death Country: Canada

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  • Article Title: Louis Riel Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/political-figures/louis-riel
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: Nov 23, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014