University of Illinois Extension

Sieur de LaSalle

LaSalleSieur de LaSalle was born on November 21, 1643 in Rouen, France. He enrolled in a Jesuit school at 15 and took his vows to become a priest in 1660. In 1665, he was asked to go abroad as a missionary. Later in 1667, he asked to be released from his vows as a priest and began his career as an explorer.