d'Iberville's education and early maritime career

By 1697 d'Iberville was only about thirty-five but already had extensive campaigning behind him. His classical and religious education was followed by service aboard family ships and work in the Canadian fur trade. He became a quartermaster on one of his father's vessels, combining literacy and family connections with practical responsibility at sea. The ease of this transition suggests that his family was preparing a capable young man for its commercial enterprise, rather than expecting him to enter the priesthood.