LA SALLE, RENE ROBERT CAVELIER, SIEUR DE (1643-1687), French explorer in North America, was baptized at Rouen, France, on Nov. 22, 1643. He received the best educa tion of the period, that of the Jesuits, but acquired an enmity for the organization which influenced many of his later acts. In 1666 he emigrated to Montreal where he received a grant of land on the St. Lawrence river. An impetus to explore, however, led him constantly into the wilderness and in 1669 and 1670 he under took explorations south of Lakes Ontario and Erie. The claim often made that he discovered the Ohio river in 1671 is not ac cepted by modern historians. His services and ability made him a favourite with Frontenac, the governor of Canada, and in he was sent to France as the governor's representative to defend the building of Fort Frontenac (on the site of Kingston, Ont.), which Frontenac had undertaken upon his own initiative, and also to petition for the command of the fort. His petitions were successful. In 1677 he again visited France to seek further privileges and financial assistance in extending his explorations and the fur trade westward, together with the permission to build forts. He was rewarded with a monopoly of the trade in the Mississippi valley.
In 1679, after thorough preparation, members of his expedition boarded the "Griffin," the first commercial vessel on Lake Erie, and proceeded to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where the ship was loaded with a cargo of furs and started on its return voyage, La Salle hoping the cargo would pay his creditors at Montreal. The ship was never heard from again, an inauspicious start. Unaware of this, La Salle continued down the west shore of Lake Michigan to the mouth of the river St. Joseph where Fort Miami was built. From there, joined by a party under his lieutenant, Henri de Tonti, his expedition of 34 men ascended the river and portaged to the Illinois, where near Lake Peoria they erected Fort Crevecoeur. Preparations were here made for the voyage down the Mississippi, while Michael Accault, Father Hennepin and another voyageur were sent on a successful trip up that river beyond the Falls of St. Anthony in Minnesota. La Salle and four companions started on a flying trip back to Fort Frontenac to straighten out finances and bring supplies, while Tonti led a small party in search of a better site for a fort. Messengers met La Salle upon his return
with the news that Fort Crevecoeur had been abandoned and the men deserted. La Salle, fearing for Tonti's safety, rapidly canoed westward and 'descended the Illinois to the Mississippi without finding him. He and his men then returned on foot to Fort Miami, from where La Salle returned to Fort Frontenac for a third time. Tonti and his men, after being captured by the Indians, had mean time made their way to Green Bay.
La Salle, having been able to raise funds, returned in the spring full of courage for another attempt. Tonti rejoined him and the party of over fifty proceeded via the Chicago-Illinois portage to , the Mississippi river, down which they descended without diffi culty to its long-sought mouth. There on April 9, 1682, La Salle took possession of the region watered by the Mississippi and all its tributaries for King Louis of France and named it "Louisiana." La Salle was on the verge of success. He intended to build forts and plant colonies both in the Illinois region and at the mouth of the Mississippi, through which he could control the resources of his vast empire. He hoped soon to free himself of the entangle ments of Canada and become governor of an independent realm. In Dec. 1682, he began the construction of Fort St. Louis on the Illinois river, the first post of a permanent character in the Illinois country. To facilitate the transportation of supplies he sent two men to build a post on the present site of Chicago to guard the Chicago portage. Unfortunately, however, Frontenac, his loyal supporter, was recalled to France. La Salle's merchant rivals, who resented his monopoly, carried on a campaign against him, suc ceeding first with Frontenac's successor, and finally with the French government at home. La Salle, convinced of the hostility of the new governor, started east to treat with him, but on the way met officials sent by the governor to take over the Illinois forts. La Salle was forced to carry his troubles direct to France.