U.S. Department of the Interior George Rogers Clark National Historical Park

Frontier Financier

Francis Vigo was one of the important Revolutionary War heroes who assisted George Rogers Clark and the American cause. Vigo's efforts aided Clark in turning the tide of events in the West and in winning the region between the Appalachian Mountains and the for the new nation.

Francis Vigo Vigo (Vee-go) was born December 3, as a merchant and trader in St. Louis 1747, in the town of Mondovi in what is in Spanish Upper Louisiana. Later, as now northern . Little is known of a business associate of Lieutenant his early life until he enlisted in a Governor Fernando de Leyba, Vigo Spanish regiment and was sent to New was quite successful trading among Orleans (then a Spanish possession). the area's Indians and French settlers. After his discharge, Vigo entered the fur trade. By 1772, he was established

George Rogers Clark In July 1778, George Rogers Clark and them with supplies from his own his small force of 180 frontiersmen stores. In making this decision, Vigo no captured British-controlled, but French- doubt was influenced by the assistance inhabited, Kaskaskia and Cahokia in being given the by the across from St. Lieutenant Governor de Leyba. Vigo Louis. The French there and also at also loaned Clark money to pay the Vincennes soon were won over to the local inhabitants for needed goods. American cause, in large part through Vigo's visible assistance was noted by the efforts of Father . the French and further solidified their Vigo, in St. Louis, decided to support support behind Clark. Clark and the Americans by furnishing Prisoner Learning of Clark's success, British approached the settlement, he was Lieutenant Governor Henry Hamilton taken prisoner and was held for left Detroit on October 7, 1778, with a several days. force of British soldiers and Indians, plus still-loyal French volunteers and Hamilton didn't realize the extent of militia. He recaptured Vincennes Vigo's involvement with the Americans. without a fight on December 17. Vigo, Therefore, Vigo was released on the unaware of this turn of events, set out condition that on his way back to St. December 18 for Vincennes to help the Louis, he do nothing that would harm Americans with supplies. As he the British cause.

Informing Clark Vigo complied with the letter, if not the [gentleman] that we could wish for as spirit, of this agreement by first he had had good opportunities and returning to St. Louis before starting had taken great pains to inform himself out for Kaskaskia to report to Clark. with a design to give intelligence...." Arriving on January 29, 1779, he provided Clark with valuable detailed Capitalizing on Vigo's information, information on the situation at Clark gathered a force of Vincennes. Vigo told Clark that the approximately 170 men to march British intended to descend upon the across the flooded Illinois country. Americans at Kaskaskia in the spring Departing on February 5, his army and that they would not expect the endured an incredible epic trek through Americans to attack them at Vincennes frigid flood waters and captured Fort during the winter. Clark later wrote of Sackville at Vincennes on February 25, Vigo: "in sho[r]t we got Every 1779. Information from this Gentn

After the War Vigo's service to the Haute. Finally in 1875, almost an entire continued during the remainder of the century after the war, Vigo's estate Revolution and in the years following. was paid $8,616 principal and $41,282 By 1783, Vigo had moved to in interest for his services both to Clark Vincennes where he spent most of and to his country. the next 50 years working in the fur trade and serving as a colonel in the In 1934, sculptor John Angel was militia. commissioned to prepare a suitable statue of Vigo to be placed on the park Vigo's business affairs eventually grounds adjacent to the George suffered setbacks; virtually Rogers Clark Memorial. On May 4, impoverished, he died at age 88 in 1936, the 10-ton granite work was 1836. He was buried in Greenlawn positioned where it overlooks the Cemetery in Vincennes. Prior to his . To the thousands of death, Vigo had specified that a portion visitors to the George Rogers Clark of any money received by his estate National Historical Park, the Vigo should be used to purchase a bell for Statue serves as a fitting tribute to the the Vigo County Courthouse in Terre contributions of this important American patriot.

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA Updated 11/06