(1643-1687) La Salle
Rene- Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle was a french explorer. He was sent by King Louis XIV (14) to travel south from Canada and sail down the Mississippi river to the Gulf of Mexico. He was then first European to travel the length of the Mississippi River. His mission was to explore and establish fur-trade routes along the river. La Salle named the entire Mississippi basin Louisian, in honor of the King, and claimed it for Franceon April 9, 1682. He also explored Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. He tried to start a settlement in the southern Mississippi River Valley, but the venture ended in disaster.
La Salle traveled from France to Quebec, New France in late 1667. He was determined to find a water passage to the east, through North America. Leaving Montreal in July 1669, La Salle crossed Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, and other places which are not documented. La Salle made many exploring trips during the years 1671-1673.
La Salle returned to France in 1672, getting permission from the king to explore the area between Florida, Mexico, and New France. He returned to Canada in 1678 with his friends Henri de Tonty, and others.
In Canada they constructed a fort on the Niagra River and built a ship called the Griffon, which they used to explore the Great Lakes. They sailed on August 7, 1679, traveling across Lake Erie and Lake Uron. They traveled across land to Lake Michigan, which they paddled across in canoes. Returning, they discovered that the Griffon was lost, the fort at Niagra had burned down, and many men had deserted their posts, robbing supply stores.
On a 1681 expedition La Salle and about 40 men again headed to the Mississippi River. They reached the Mississippi River on February 6, 1682, then headed down it in canoes. They built Port Prud, home at what is now Memphis, Tennessee and later reached the Gulf of Mexico on April 9, 1682, where they built a cross. They claimed all the land along the Mississippi River for France. Their return to New France was beset by illness and Indian attacks. La Salle returned to France in 1683, but sailed to the New World again in 1684 with four ships, intending to start a colony in the Mississippi River Valley. The expedition last a vital supply ship en route, and mistakenly landed in Matagorda Bay, near what is now Houston, Texas where one ship ran aground. La Salle's men shot Indians who took supplies from the wreaked ship, making enemies of the local Indians. One ship returned to France with a disgruntled crew.
The french expedition built a fort at the mout of the Lavaca River, and explored the area. The last remaining ship was wreaked by a drunken pilot in April 166, stranding the French in Texas. The 20 men traveled up the Lavaca River, trying to locate the Mississippi River so they could follow it north into the French missions in the Great Lakes region. Most of the men in this expedition died, and the 8 survivors returned to the fort in October, 1686. On a second try, La Salle and 17 others set out in a few months a group of five mutineers shot and killed La Salle on March 19, 1687. They left his body for animals to eat. The rest of the expedition made it to Montreal in 1688, but those at the for were killed by the Karankawa Indians.
By: Quinyana, Group c
