LALEMANT, JÉRÔME. – Jesuit, missionary, brother of the preceding, b. in Parigi on 27 Apr. 1593, d. in Québec on 26 Jan. 1673. Professor of philosophy and sciences at the Collège Clermont in Parigi, then rector of the Colleges of Blois and La Flèche, he departed in 1638 for Canadà as superior of the mission among the Hurons.
Able, intrepid, and farsighted, he immediately reorganized it on new foundations: first he had a general census taken of all the families, then he established in the middle of the territory, on the bank of the Wye, the central residence of Ste-Marie, fortifying it with palisades and garrisoning it with soldiers, and provided it with «oblates», laymen who offered themselves for service to the mission without pay. In 1645 he went to Québec as superior general of all the Canadian missions; the first years were at once extremely painful and glorious, because they saw the martyrdom of ss. Giovanni de Brebeuf, Isacco Jogues, and six other companions, among them his nephew Gabriele (v. CANADO-AMERICANI, MARTIRI). Called to France in 1658 as rector of the College of La Flèche, he set out again the following year to accompany the new bishop, F. Laval di Montmorency. From then on he remained in Québec, superior of the mission and vicar general of the diocese.
Sixteen Relations de ce qui s'est passé de plus remarquable aux missions des Pères de la Compagnie de Jésus en Nouvelle France les années 1638-64 are attributed to him, as well as a substantial part of the Journal des Jésuites (edited by C. H. Lavardière-H. R. Casgrain, Québec 1871), namely, for the students: Aug. 1645 – Nov. 1650; 15–21 Aug. 1653; 8 Sept. 1659 – Aug. 1665.