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| La Salle discovers the mouth of the Mississippi River and lays claim to the land in its watershed for France, roughly one-third of the United States. He names the land La Louisiane in honor of King Louis XIV. "In the name of the most high, mighty, invincible and victorious Prince, Louis the Great, by the Grace of God King of France and of Navarre, this ninth day of April, 1682.” Color lithograph attributed to Bocquin. The Historic New Orleans Collection |