19th March, 1687 died French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle

On the 19th of March, 1687 legendary traveler Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle was killed in a shooting.

La Salle went down in history as a researcher of North America. He studied the Mississippi River and having reached it down to the mouth, called it Louisiana in honor of Louis XIV. He announced this basin the possession of France.

In 1864 La Salle told the king about new domains, occupying about half the territory of the modern United States. The traveler himself was appointed the governor. And in 1865 the King lent the ships and men to found this colony. By plan, the colony was located where the Mississippi flows into the Gulf of Mexico. On the map it is clear that in this very place now is located New Orleans.

Unfortunately, the mission could not get to the intended location. Because of the inaccuracy in maps, ships anchored in the bay of Texas Matagorda, which is 700 km west of the destination. La Salle tried in vain to find the delta, but it failed. Because of this, the sailors mutinied, and one of the colonists killed La Salle.