Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle

Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle

What did he accomplish?

• Established a connection of forts 
• Claimed land for New France
• Created a legacy for himself

Le Griffon: 45-ton ship built by La Salle

First Expedition

• In 1666, La Salle sailed from Canada to New France
• Iroquois tells him of 2 great rivers
• 1669 is the first expedition in search of Ohio River

Historical Marking of La Salle's Expedition to Ohio River

First Fort Built

• July 12, 1673, La Salle and his men built a fort
• was originally name Fort Cataraqui 
• later changed to Fort Frontenac
• meant to honor his patron, Louis de Buade de Frontenac
• this was to regulate fur trade in the Great Lakes basin

Fort Frontenac 

Many More Forts

• built Fort Conti on Lake Ontario
• later Fort Miami was placed on Miami River
• In 1682, named Mississippi basin La Louisiane after Louis XIV
• buried a cross and an engraved plate claiming Louisiana for New France
• established Fort Saint Louis of Illinois

Map of La Salle's Expeditions

Sources

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/René-Robert_Cavelier,_Sieur_de_La_Salle