Colonial history of the United States Lower Louisiana. This vast tract was first settled at Mobile and Biloxi around 1700, and continued to grow when 7,000 French immigrants founded New Orleans in 1718. Settlement proceeded very slowly; New Orleans became an important port as the gateway to the Mississippi River, but there was little other economic development because the city lacked a prosperous hinterland. In 1763, Louisiana was ceded to Spain around New Orleans and west of the Mississippi River. In the 1780s, the western border of the newly independent United States stretched to the Mississippi River. The United States reached an agreement with Spain for
French schooner Découverte (1800) French schooner Découverte (1800) The French schooner "Découverte" was a French Navy vessel launched in 1800. The British captured her at Santo Domingo in 1803 and took her into service as HMS "Decouverte". She was decommissioned in January 1806 and sold in 1808. Between March and November 1800, "Découverte" was under the command of "lieutenant de vaisseau" Passart, carrying despatches between Brest and Ferrol. Still under Passart's command, she was at Ferrol between end-January and end-February 1802. "Découverte" was present at Saint Domingue (Haiti) in November 1803 during the revolt of slaves against the French, while the British blockade of