French America Chronology

For more than 200 years, a large part of the U.S., East of the Mississippi, was actually French territory.
This chronology focuses on historic events of that time and place, particularly those that took place in the Lake Champlain Valley.

Timeline

1609
July

Samuel de Champlain Explores Lake Champlain

Defeat Iroquois Champlain

Champlain’s Battle with the Iroquois (July 1609).

1666
July

Construction of Fort Sainte Anne, Isle La Motte, Lake Champlain

fort sainte anne

Captain Pierre La Motte and his Carignan-Salières regiment build Fort St-Anne on Isle La Motte (now Vermont). Construction was completed on July 20, 1666.

Map: from the 1890 book “Le fort et la chapelle de Ste. Anne à l’ile La Motte, sur le lac Champlain“.

1682
April

Sieur de La Salle Claims the Mississippi River Basin for France

mississippi nouvelle france

On April 9, 1682, René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle claims the Mississippi River basin for France and gives it the name Louisiane.

Article: La Salle’s Shipwreck – An Exceptional Archeological Find

1686
February

Sinking of La Belle, One of the Ships of Sieur De La Salle

Model of La Belle

In early February, La Belle, one of the ships of Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle sinks on the (now Texas) coast.
Article: La Salle’s Shipwreck – An Exceptional Archeological Find

1731
October

Construction of a Wooden Stockade Fort at Pointe-à-la-Chevelure, Lake Champlain

Fort de pieux - Chimney Point

A wooden fort was built in the summer of 1731 on the eastern side (now Vermont) side of the lake. Pointe-à-la-Chevelure.  It was completed in October 1731 and operated until the late summer of 1735.

Article: 1731 French “Fort de pieux”, Lake Champlain

1735
March

Construction of Fort Saint-Frédéric, Lake Champlain

model fort saint-frederic

Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry, Louis XV’s Chief Engineer of New France started the construction of the fort on the western side of Lake Champlain (now New-York State) in the spring of 1735.

1755
October

Construction of Fort Carillon, Lake Champlain

map fort Vaudreuil Carillon

In October 1755, Michel Chartier, seigneur of Lotbinière, supported by the infantry captain of the Queen’s regiment, Joseph de Germain, began construction of the fort, which was initially called Fort Vaudreuil. The construction of this fort with wooden bastions lasted until 1757.

Map: Plan du fort Vaudreuil, situé sur la montagne Carillon en Canada, par le sieur Germain, capitaine au régime de la Reine, wooden bastions, 1758.

1995
July

Discovery of La Belle Shipwreck

Belle hull - La Salle

La Belle shipwreck, one of Sieur De La Salle’s ships, is finally discovered, more than 300 years after it sunk.
Article: La Salle’s Shipwreck – An Exceptional Archeological Find