Jean Baptiste Point du Sable is considered the founder of Chicago. Born in the French colony of Saint-Domingue (present-day Haiti) around 1745, du Sable was of African and French descent. He arrived in the area that is now Chicago in the 1770s and established a trading post and farm at the mouth of the Chicago River.

Du Sable was known for his skills as a trader and interpreter, and he played a key role in the early development of the settlement that would later become the city of Chicago. He married a Potawatomi woman named Kitihawa (Catherine), and they had two children together.

Despite his significant contributions to the founding of Chicago, du Sable faced financial difficulties and was forced to sell his property and move to Missouri in the early 1800s. He lived out his final years in poverty and obscurity.

In recognition of his legacy, Chicago has dedicated a museum and park to honor du Sable's memory. He is celebrated as a pioneer and a symbol of the diverse contributions of Black Americans to the history and development of the United States.