Jean Baptiste Point du Sable is widely regarded as the first non-Indigenous permanent resident of what would later become the city of Chicago. He was a free Black man of African and French descent, born around 1745 in Saint-Marc, Saint-Domingue (present-day Haiti).

Du Sable settled in the area of present-day Chicago in the 1770s, where he established a successful trading post along the Chicago River. He traded furs with local Indigenous peoples and European settlers, becoming a prominent and respected figure in the region. His trading post played a pivotal role in the early development of the settlement that would grow into the city of Chicago.

Du Sable's multicultural background and business acumen contributed to his success, and he is considered a pioneer of Chicago and an important figure in the history of the city. In recognition of his contributions, there is a museum dedicated to his legacy in Chicago called the DuSable Museum of African American History. Jean Baptiste Point du Sable's story highlights the significant role that Black individuals played in shaping American history, particularly in the realm of early exploration, entrepreneurship, and trade.