<P> René - Robert Cavelier , Sieur de La Salle , or Robert de La Salle ( November 22 , 1643 -- March 19 , 1687 ) was a French explorer . He explored the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada , the Mississippi River , and the Gulf of Mexico . He claimed the entire Mississippi River basin for France . </P>
<P> René - Robert Cavelier , Sieur de La Salle , or Robert de La Salle ( November 22 , 1643 -- March 19 , 1687 ) was a French explorer . He explored the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada , the Mississippi River , and the Gulf of Mexico . He claimed the entire Mississippi River basin for France . </P>
who explored the entire mississippi to the gulf of mexico
who explored the entire mississippi to the gulf of mexico
René - Robert Cavelier , Sieur de La Salle
René - Robert Cavelier , Sieur de La Salle