La Salle was a French explorer who travelled extensively in North America during the 17th century. In 1682, he set out from Quebec with the goal of reaching the mouth of the Mississippi River. He eventually succeeded in this mission, and in 1682 he claimed the entire Mississippi River Valley for France.
This claim was later confirmed by the Treaty of Paris (1763), which ended the French and Indian War. As a result of this treaty, France ceded all of its territory in North America east of the Mississippi River to Great Britain. However, France retained control of the Louisiana Territory, which included the Mississippi River Valley.
The establishment of the colony of Louisiana was a significant event in American history. It marked the beginning of French colonization in North America, and it laid the foundation for the eventual purchase of the Louisiana Territory by the United States in 1803.