La Salle (René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle)

René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, was a French explorer in the late 17th century. He is best known for exploring North America’s interior, particularly the Mississippi River. La Salle aimed to find a route to the Pacific Ocean and establish French claims in the region, helping to expand France’s colonial presence in North America. His expeditions increased European knowledge of the continent’s geography and laid groundwork for future settlement. Despite challenges and eventual failure in establishing a lasting settlement, his explorations significantly impacted the history of North American exploration and French colonization.