The mouth of the Mississippi River is claimed for France by Robert Cavelier de La Salle. He names it Louisiana.

The Mississippi River is 2320 miles long. It is the 4th longest river in the world and the 10th largest. The river is connected to 31 states in some capacity. Native Americans lived along the river for many generations as rivers are known to provide sustenance to its surroundings.

On this day April 9th, in 1682, Robert (Rene) Cavelier de La Salle discovers the mouth of the Mississippi River and claims it for France. As a child, La Salle enjoyed science and nature, and in 1660 he devoted himself to the religious order of the Jesuits and took his vows, he never married.

In 1666, La Salle sailed for New France, as he called it, currently simply known as the United States. He was practically destitute. With 18 Native Americans, La Salle canoed down the Mississippi River; he named it La Louisiane in honor of Louis XIV and buried an engraved plate with a cross in order to claim it for France. La Salle went on to explore many other areas, and his legacy lives on as there is a statue of him in Navasota, Texas.