LE SUEUR, Canadian explorer, born in Canada in the 17th century; died at sea in the 18th. In 1693 he was at Chegoimegon maintaining peace between the Chippewas and Sioux, and in 1695 he built a fort in the west. He was in France in 1697, and obtained permission to work certain mines that he had discovered, but on his way to Canada was captured by the English. After his release he sailed to Canada, but was prevented from working his mines, and returned to France, whence he went to Louisiana in 1699. In 1700 he was ordered by Iberville to proceed to the Sioux country with twenty men, establish a post there, and take possession of a copper-mine which he had previously discovered. He set out toward the end of April, ascended the Mississippi to St. Anthony's falls, entered St. Peter's river on 19 September, and forty leagues from its mouth found another river emptying on the left, which he called Riviere verte, or Green river, because earth that was carried into it from a copper mine about three miles distant gave it that color. It is now known as Blue Earth river, or Mankato. He was able to sail only about three miles up this river, owing to the floating ice, and he built a fort on the banks, in which he passed the winter. As soon as April came he proceeded to the mine, from which he extracted 30,000 pounds of ore in twenty-two days, but was unable to continue the work for want of funds. He returned to France in 1702, and afterward went again to Louisiana, where he joined the Indians and acquired great influence among them. In 1730, when the Indian allies of the French were defeated by the Natchez tribe, he formed a corps of 700 Choctaws, at the head of which he marched against the Natchez, defeated them, and released over 200 French and negro captives, he was placed in command of a small vessel and ordered to push on to Red river, 21 December, which he was to ascend, in order to ascertain where the main body of the Natchez Indians was stationed. Having learned its position, he returned, and, on the surrender of the savages, he was one of three officers to whom the custody of their chiefs was intrusted. Knowing their language thoroughly, he learned from them that other bodies of Natchez and kindred tribes were preparing to attack the French. He laid this information before the general and guaranteed that if he were allowed a picked company he would overcome the savages. This offer was refused. He appears to have gone to France some time afterward, and to have died at sea when returning to Canada.