VINCENNES, Jean Baptiste Bissot, Sieur de. Canadian explorer, born in Quebec in January, 1688; died in Illinois in 1736. He was the tenth son of Francois Bissot, a rich merchant of Quebec and owner of a Canadian seigniory, and a near relative to the explorer Louis Joliet--some say his nephew, others his brother-in-law. He fought against the Iroquois at Mackinaw at the age of ten, entered the Canadian army as ensign in 1701, and was employed in the west. In 1704 he was sent to the Miami country, where he rendered valuable services to the crown, rescuing some Iroquois pioneers from the Ottawas, and otherwise greatly befriending the Indians. In 1712 he saved Detroit from the invasion of the Fox Indians, but came afterward in collision with La Mothe Cadillac, the commander of that place, who asked for his recall. Vincennes's fault was overlooked, owing to his services, and, becoming reconciled with Cadillac, he became afterward the latter's most trusted lieutenant. He was employed successively in the Miami country, in Ohio, and in Michigan, but toward 1725 resided on the present site of the city of Vincennes, which is named in his honor, and built there an earth fort and a trading-post. Early in 1736 he was sent to assist in the expedition against the Chickasaws. Mustering about 100 Miami Indians, he joined D'Artaguette and they entered the territory of the Chickasaws by way of Illinois, and were to co-operate with an invading column from Louisiana. The latter expedition failed, but D'Artaguette and Vincennes, unaware of the danger, pushed forward. Meanwhile the Chickasaws collected all their forces and attacked, but were repelled with great loss, and the French captured several villages. But the Chickasaws brought about the desertion of the Miamis, and the invaders were finally defeated, nearly all being killed or taken prisoners. D'Artagnette, Vincennes, Father Senat, and others were burned at the stake in the principal village of the Chickasaws.