Nicollet, Jean Nicolas

Jean Nicolas (1786-1843), a French scientist. He was born in Savoy. He was the friend and pupil of Laplace, who makes frequent mention of him in his Mechanique Celeste. He visited the United States in 1833 for scientific study. He desired particularly to explore the Red, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Missouri river basins. He collected ethnological, historical, and physiological data concerning America and its products. He was employed by the war department to make further researches in the far West, and on this expedition he was accompanied by Fremont. He made several geological reports, and a map which was published by order of Congress. He died in Washington, D. C., September 11, 1843. His name is preserved in Nicollet Avenue of Minneapolis, and in Nicollet County, Minnesota.