Jean Baptiste Point du Sable is considered to be the first non-native settler of Chicago and is widely regarded as the "Founder of Chicago." He was a Black man of African and Haitian descent, born around the 1740s in Saint-Marc, Saint-Domingue (now Haiti).

Du Sable first arrived in the Great Lakes region in the 1770s and established a trading post at the mouth of the Chicago River. He married a Potawatomi woman and had children with her, and his settlement became a vital hub for trade and commerce in the area. Du Sable's trading post grew into a thriving community, attracting settlers and traders from different backgrounds.

Du Sable's contributions to the development of Chicago were significant, and he played a crucial role in laying the foundations for the city's growth and prosperity. His entrepreneurial spirit, leadership, and cultural exchange with indigenous peoples helped shape the early history of Chicago. Despite facing challenges and discrimination as a Black man during his time, Du Sable's legacy as a pioneer and trailblazer in the history of Chicago and the United States is widely acknowledged and celebrated.