The sieur de Sauvolle (1701), known for certainty only by his surname, was the first governor of
the French territory of Louisiana. He accompanied the brothers
Iberville and
Bienville on their first voyage to Louisiana in 1699 and their explorations inland. On May 2, 1699, he was appointed commander of the new
Fort Maurepas
Fort Maurepas, later known as Old Biloxi,
"Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d'Iberville" (biography),
''Catholic Encyclopedia'', 1907, webpage:
gives dates: 13 Feb. 1699, went to the mainland Biloxi,
with fort completion May 1, 1699; sailed f ...
, and in January 1700 he became the territory's governor. His journal is one of the earliest sources for the history of the region. Sauvolle died suddenly, likely from
yellow fever
Yellow fever is a viral disease of typically short duration. In most cases, symptoms include fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains – particularly in the back – and headaches. Symptoms typically improve within five days. ...
, on August 21, 1701.
Despite the survival of his journal entries and the journals of Iberville, almost nothing is known about Sauvolle: neither his ancestry nor the year of his birth, nor even much of his name. Iberville mentions him as "M. de Sauvolle".
Statements by various historians that his first name was ''Antoine'' or ''François-Marie'', that he was the sieur de la Villantry, or that he was a brother of
Iberville and
Bienville are assertions not supported by multiple sources.
Notes
External links
* (a somewhat romanticized account)
*
Governors of Louisiana (New France)
Year of birth uncertain
1701 deaths
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