French explorer - René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, was born in Rouen, Normandy, France, on November 22, 1643. He was born in a wealthy family of merchants and was raised as a Jesuit priest. However, he abandoned his priesthood at the age of 15, and by age 22 he was drawn to adventure and exploration. So he asked to join his brother Jean, who was sent on a mission abroad to New France, now known as Canada. When he arrived in Montreal in 1667, he did not have the means to support himself. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get the original essay La Salle was a priest at the Saint-Sulpice seminary for a year, before asking to be released from the Jesuit society. La Salle built a colony after the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice declared that they would promise the settlers land that would give them protection against the Iroquois. He established relationships with the natives known as the Mohawks, who spoke of a great river named the Ohio that flowed into the Mississippi and out of the sea. La Salle quickly became obsessed with finding this river. He shares this obsession with the governor of New France Daniel Courcell, Count of Frontenac. Together they wanted to expand French military power across the French lakes. René-Robert therefore sold his colony and went to France in 1673 to obtain permission from King Louis XIV of France to explore the region between Florida, Mexico and New France. La Salle began to control much of the fur trade, but he was in debt to many different people. Nevertheless, in 1678, he built "The Griffon", a sailing ship to cross the 3 great lakes: Lake Erie, Lake Houston and Lake Michigan and down across the Mississippi, but the Griffon was shipwreck, just off the coast of the Illinois River, where another ship was built in 1680. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay But La Salle was far too harsh and strict toward others, and was no less harsh toward himself. When he reached the junction of the Illinois and the Mississippi, the river he had dreamed of for so long, he heard that his partner, Tonty and the rest of the crew were in danger, so he turned the book over and denied himself this chance. explore Mississippi.