History of St. Louis (1763–1803) History of St. Louis (1763–1803) The history of St. Louis, Missouri from 1763 to 1803 was marked by the transfer of French Louisiana to Spanish control, the founding of the city of St. Louis, its slow growth and role in the American Revolution under the rule of the Spanish, the transfer of the area to American control in the Louisiana Purchase, and its steady growth and prominence since then. In mid-1763, French Governor Jean-Jacques Blaise d'Abbadie granted a trade monopoly over the west upper Mississippi region to Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent, a New Orleans merchant. Maxent quickly engaged the
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