We built a fort at the mouth of the Lavaca River, and explored the area. The last remaining ship was wrecked by a drunken pilot in April 1686, stranding us in Texas. Twenty men traveled up the Lavaca River hoping to locate the Mississippi River. We tried to find it so we could follow it North into French area.

I returned to France in 1683, I sailed back to the New World in 1684 with four ships intending to start a colony. the King actually wanted me to take over Spanish mines. I lied to the King and told him the Mississippi was farther north than it was. My expedition lost a vital supply ship en route, and mistakenly landed in Matagordia Bay.

In Canada we built a fort on the Niagara River and we built a ship called the Griffon. We used Griffon to explore the Great Lakes. We started sailing on August 7, 1679, traveling across Lake Erie and Lake Huron. We traveled across land to Lake Michigan.

I traveled from France to Quebec, New France or Canada. I was determined to find a water to the east through North America. I left Montreal in July. I crossed Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, and other places.

My name is Robert and I’m a French explorer. I was sent by King Louis the 14th to travel south from Canada and sail down the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico.I was the first European to travel the Mississippi. My mission was to establish fur-trade routes along the river.