Pierre Chrysologue Pambrun (1792 – 1841) was a French Canadian militia officer and later a fur trader in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company.
Over time Pambrun strengthened relations with the neighboring Sahaptin nations through fair treatment and joining in on seasonal animal hunts.
When ABCFM missionaries Marcus Whitman and Henry H. Spalding arrived in the area to proselytize among the Sahaptins, Pambrun helped them select Waiilatpu for a mission post.
[1] After the battle Pambrun's combat record earned him a promotion to second lieutenant,[1] though his prospects for advancement ended with the disbandment of the Voltigeurs in 1817.
At Lake of the Woods the party received news of the disbandment of the Red River Colony due to hostilities with the North West Company (NWC).
In April 1816, Semple ordered Pambrun to proceed to the NWC Fort Qu'Appelle where Métis were gathering, but was instructed to "carefully avoid every act of hostility until fully justified by the conduct of our enemies.
"[2] Reaching the station in May, Pambrun found Métis men speaking "violent threats against the Colony"[2] and soon departed with 22 HBC staff under master and trader James Sutherland.
On 9 May, they were attacked by Cuthbert Grant and 49 NWC,[3] including a future coworker of Pambrun's, Thomas McKay, son of Alexander MacKay and Marguerite Wadin and stepson of John McLoughlin.
While Pambrun did not witness the attack on Brandon House, he was in the area and promptly was taken to see the victorious NWC men looting the station property.
[2]: 50 Sixty miles outside the Red River colony, a small fortified position was made to store the seized HBC goods.
Serving as a clerk, he spent time at Cumberland House, the York Factory, Fort Edmonton until being assigned to the New Caledonia Department in 1824.
Pambrun announced to the natives present that he "came to be their friend and to do them good" but that Wide Mouth's son was banned from fort until he paid forty beaver skins, which was done within a year.
[13] While first entering Oregon Country, Catholic missionaries François Norbert Blanchet and Modeste Demers were greeted by Pambrun in November 1838.
[15] Parker went through Fort Nez Perces on 6 October 1835, receiving a meal including the "great luxuries" of milk, bread, butter, and sugar.
[18] The mission carpenter, Gray, found the meals served "a great change from dried and pounded buffalo meat" that the party had previously subsisted on.
[21] Pambrun became gravely injured while riding a horse in 1841 and continued to live in agony for four days under the care of Marcus Whitman.