Robert de La Salle Made by Cal Cerny

Childhood René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle was born on November 21, 1643, in Rouen, France, and was briefly a member of the Jesuit religious order, taking his vows in On March 27, 1667, he left the Society of Jesus. He wanted to travel more than be a priest. He learned many languages, and to use these skills he chose to leave school and travel. Jesuit religious order symbol

His Sponsors La Salle received permisson from Governor Daniel Courcelle and Intendant Jean Talon Intendant Jean Talon

First Expedition La Salle led an expedition in 1669 in which he reached the Ohio River and followed it as far as Louisville, Kentucky. He later participated in a mission that was to follow the northern shore of Lake Erie all the way to Michilimackinac. His group consisted of five canoes and 12 men. Father Francois Dollier de Casson traveled with him as far as Hamilton, Ontario with seven men in another three canoes.

His Route This is the route La Salle took

Fort Frontenac La Salle next oversaw the building of Fort Frontenac (now Kingston, Ontario) on Lake Ontario as part of the fur trade. The fort, which was completed in 1673, was named for La Salle's patron, Louis de Buade de Frontenac, Governor General of New France. La Salle traveled to France early the next year to establish his claim and to procure royal support. With Frontenac's support, he received not only a fur trade concession, with permission to establish frontier forts, but also a title of nobility. He returned and rebuilt Frontenac in stone. Later Henri de Tonti joined his explorations. The building of Fort Frontenac

The Griffon La Salle’s ship, the Griffon, built in 1679 on Lake Erie, was a ship La Salle built for new expeditions and fur trading. An Italian soldier named Henry de Tonti, took charge of the building of the Griffon. Later Tonti became La Salle’s second in command and his best friend.

Last Voyage and Death La Salle’s last voyage was from France to Louisiana. In 1684 La Salle and about 300 other people headed for the Gulf of Mexico. La Salle wanted to form a colony at the mouth of the Mississippi River. He had not made a map of the river mouth when he had first discovered it. La Salle sailed past the Mississippi and landed a Matagorda Bay, on the coast of Texas. The settlers found it hard to live in Texas. In 1687, La Salle and many others set out to find another place for the colony to settle. Some unhappy settlers followed them and murdered La Salle. His Murder was a sad ending to his amazing life, but he will always be remembered as a brave explorer. Secret La Salle grave stone