born Nov. 22, 1643, Rouen, France
died March 19, 1687, near Brazos River [now in Texas, U.S.]
French explorer.
In 1666 he left France for North America and was granted land near Montreal. He explored the Ohio River region (1669) and then worked with the count de Frontenac to extend French influence. He helped establish Fort Frontenac on Lake Ontario, where as seigneur he controlled the fur trade. He obtained authority from Louis XIV to explore the western frontier of New France and build new forts. He sailed down the Illinois River and with Henri de Tonty (1650?1704) canoed down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. There in 1682 La Salle claimed the entire Mississippi Basin for France, naming it Louisiana after Louis XIV. Back in France, he received authority to build a fort at the mouth of the Mississippi. Beset by losses of men and ships, he mistakenly landed at Matagorda Bay, Texas. After fruitless attempts to locate the Mississippi, he was killed by mutineers.