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Birth Date
Born in Rouen, France to wealthy merchants -
Religion
Becomes a novice in the society of Jesuits and gives up his fortune at 15 years of age. -
First Expedition
Launches his first exploration in hopes of finding the Ohio River. -
La Louisiane
Goes to what is now Louisiana and named it, La Louisiane, after the king. Over the next three years, he builds ships to navigate the upper Great Lakes and establishes trading posts from Niagra to Illinois. -
Mighty Mississippi
He reaches the Mississippi, explores it to its mouth, and claims for France all the lands drained by it. -
Leaving
He leaves with around 300 people aboard 4 ships. -
Landing
Arrives off of Texas Coast, landing in Matagorda Bay. -
Settling
He selects a permanent location for the colony on the banks of a stream he calls the River of the Bison. -
Death
He was killed to death by 2 of his own men Pierre Duhaut and L'Archeveque.