Julien Dubuque

Julien Dubuque
An artist's conception of Julien Dubuque
Born	Champlain, Quebec
Resting place	Julien Dubuque Monument
Occupation(s)	Explorer, Miner
Employer	Spanish Empire
Known for	Founding Dubuque

Julien Dubuque (January 1762 – 24 March 1810) was a Canadian of Norman origin^[1][2] from the area of Champlain, Quebec who arrived near what now is known as Dubuque, Iowa, which was named after him. He was one of the first European men to settle in the area. He initially received permission from the Meskwaki people to mine the lead in 1788,^[3] which was confirmed by the Spanish, who gave him a land grant in 1796.^[4]

Once he had received permission from the Meskwaki to mine lead, Dubuque remained in the area for the rest of his life. He befriended the local Meskwaki chief Peosta – for whom the nearby town of Peosta, Iowa is named. It is widely believed that Dubuque married Peosta's daughter, named Potosa.^[3] The marriage is disputed. Those who back the marriage claim point to letters that mention a Madame Dubuque as meaning Dubuque's wife.^{[citation needed]}

After his death, the Meskwaki built a log crypt for Dubuque, which was replaced in the late 19th century by an imposing stone monument.

The name "Potosa" often appears in fanciful origin stories for the name of Potosi, Wisconsin, a small town founded in the 1830s as a lead-mining settlement located north of Dubuque.