French Florida thumb|upright=1.3|Map of French Florida In 1562, Charles IX, under the leadership of Admiral Gaspard de Coligny sent Jean Ribault and a group of Huguenot settlers in an attempt to colonize the Atlantic coast and found a colony on a territory which would take the name of the French Florida. They discovered the sound and Port Royal Island, which would be called Parris Island in South Carolina, on which he built a fort named Charlesfort. The group, led by René Goulaine de Laudonnière, moved to the south where they founded the Fort Caroline on the Saint John's river in Florida on June 22, 1564.John T. McGrath, The French in early Florida: in the eye of the hurricane (U Press of Florida, 2000).
french florida thumb|upright=13|map of french florida in 1562 charles ix under the leadership of admiral gaspard de coligny sent jean ribault and a group of huguenot settlers in an attempt to colonize the atlantic coast and found a colony on a territory which would take the name of the french florida they discovered the sound and port royal island which would be called parris island in south carolina on which he built a fort named charlesfort the group led by rené goulaine de laudonnière moved to the south where they founded the fort caroline on the saint john's river in florida on june 22 1564john t mcgrath the french in early florida in the eye of the hurricane (u press of florida 2000)