History of slavery in Louisiana History of slavery in Louisiana Following Robert Cavelier de La Salle establishing the French claim to the territory and the introduction of the name "Louisiana", the first settlements in the southernmost portion of Louisiana (New France) were developed at present-day Biloxi (1699), Mobile (1702), Natchitoches (1714), and New Orleans (1718). Slavery was then established by European colonists. The institution was maintained by the Spanish (1763–1800) when the area was part of New Spain, by the French when they briefly reacquired the colony (1800-03), and by the United States following the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Due to its complex history, Louisiana
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