Although Chicago was not chartered as a city until 1837, its founding took place many years before when Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable born to an African-born Haitian mother opened his trading post beside the Chicago River. Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable was born in San Marc, Haiti, in 1745. Not very much is known about Du Sable's early life. It is known, however, that Du Sable's mother was probably killed by the Spanish when he was ten. After moving to New Orleans with a good fr