cial nobleman. In 1691,
the young man assumed
the title sieur de Bien-
villefollowing the death
of an older brother. Bien-
ville came from a military
family, so in 1692 he
joined the French navy as
a midshipman. In this ca-
pacity he accompanied
several older brothers
throughout King Wil-
liam’s War against En-
glish settlements to the
south. He distinguished
himself in combat along
the New England coast,
Hudson’s Bay, and New-
foundland, sustaining a
severe head injury in
- Afterward, he voy-
aged with his famous
brother, Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville, to
France, for the first time. He was favorably re-
ceived by the French court, and in 1698 Bien-
ville was authorized to help found a French
colony along the Gulf of Mexico (present-day
Louisiana).
Bienville arrived off the Gulf Coast in the
spring of 1699 and helped to explore the
lower reaches of the Mississippi River. He
was among the first white men to ascend that
mighty waterway from its mouth. Subse-
quently, he also gained appointment as com-
mander of Fort Maurepas, near present-day
Biloxi, as the French continued their survey-
ing efforts. Although a young man, Bienville
exhibited extremely bold and audacious lead-
ership. In 1699, accompanied by only five men
in two canoes, he confronted an English war-
ship in the Mississippi River. The youthful of-
ficer, disregarding the odds, then summarily
ordered its captain to leave French territory
immediately, lest he be destroyed by superior
forces. Capt. William L. Bond was so non-
plussed by this display that he departed,
whereby the river bend was christened, and
remains known as today, the English Turn. In
1701, Bienville, in his
brother’s absence, be-
came the highest-ranking
provincial official in Lou-
isiana. The following year
he was officially commis-
sioned royal lieutenant
and de facto governor,
and he also relocated the
main colony to Mobile.
For the next 10 years he
was forced to confront
disease, corruption, and
Indian hostility, all of
which threatened the
well-being of nascent
Louisiana. Fortunately,
Bienville was adept as a
linguist, became fluent in
Choctaw, and was well
versed in the cultural nu-
ances of Native American
diplomacy. Through his efforts, these numer-
ous and potential enemies were converted
into friends of France, and they proved instru-
mental in driving English traders from French
territory.
In 1712, King Louis XIV, strapped for cash,
relinquished control of Louisiana to wealthy
financier Lamothe de Cadillac, who was ap-
pointed governor and also introduced slaves
from Africa. Bienville worked poorly with this
arrogant aristocrat, who frequently sent him
on dangerous missions in a blatant attempt to
have him killed. Bienville, however, cleverly
used danger to advance his reputation. Auda-
cious as always, he once marched 34 men into
the heart of the Natchez Indian tribe, which
was capable of fielding 800 warriors, used
threats and entreaties to secure Indians re-
sponsible for the murders of French settlers,
and also coerced the tribe into helping con-
struct a fort on their territory. Such aplomb
did not go unrewarded, and in 1718 Bienville
was appointed temporary governor following
the recall of Cadillac. He then added further
luster to his name by successfully capturing
the Spanish settlement of Pensacola. The fol-DEBIENVILLE, JEAN-BAPTISTELEMOYNE
Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville
National Archives of Canada