Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Iberville, Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur Da 1661-

Founder of Louisiana; born in Montreal, Canada, July 16, 1661; was one of eleven brothers who figure in some degree in French colonial history. Entering the French navy at fourteen, he became distinguished in the annals of Canada for his operations against the English in the north and east of that province. In 1698 he was sent from France to the Gulf of Mexico with two frigates (Oct. 22), to occupy the mouth of the Mississippi and the region neglected after the death of La Salle. On finding that stream, he received from the Indians a letter left by De Tonty, in 1686, for La Salle. There he built Fort Biloxi, garrisoned it, and made his brother Bienville the King's lieutenant. In May, 1699, he returned to France, but reappeared at Fort Biloxi in January, 1700. On visiting France and returning in 1701, he found the colony reduced by disease, and transferred the settlement to Mobile, and began the colonization of Alabama. Disease had impaired his health, and the government called him away from his work as the founder of Louisiana. He was engaged in the naval service in the West Indies, where he was fatally stricken by yellow fever, dying in Havana, Cuba, July 9, 1706.