Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, Sieur de la Verendrye (1685-1749), was a French-Canadian soldier, explorer, and fur trader. He was the first to explore extensively the southern prairies in what is now the northern United States and southern Canada.

Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, later Sieur de La Verendrye, was born in Trois-Rivières, New France, on Nov. 17, 1685, the fourth son of the governor of that town. He entered the army as a cadet at the age of 12. Over the next 10 years he served in three campaigns against the English to the south.

In 1707 La Verendrye sailed to France and obtained a commission as lieutenant in the Regiment of Bretagne. During his 4 years in the French army he took part in three more campaigns, and he was badly wounded at the battle of Malplaquet. Without private means to support his career, La Verendrye was obliged to return to Canada...