René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle (1643-1687)
Born in Normandy, Cavelier preferred his noble title, Sieur de la Salle. He immigrated to New France and secured a seigniory (a large estate) along the St. Lawrence River. He sold it to invest in the Canadian fur trade in an attempt to make his fortune. Sailing for France, he descended the Mississippi River to its delta in 1682, established a trading monopoly in the Mississippi Valley, and secured Louisiana for France. Returning from France in 1684, La Salle led an expedition seeking the mouth of the Mississippi. The explorers sailed past the delta and landed in Matagorda Bay (Texas) instead. They established Fort St. Louis in 1685 and claimed the area for the French. Thus, the French flag is one of the six flags which has flown over Texas. Discord among the members of the expedition led to La Salle's assassination on March 19, 1687. Most of those remaining eventually traveled north on the Mississippi River to return to Canada.
Additional Information Can Be Found At...
Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle: Explorer - EnchantedLearning
La Salle shipwreck yields skeleton
La Salle, Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de, an Encarta Encyclopedia Article
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Rene-Robert-Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle