| 1698 |
Although he was apparently of high birth and fortune Sauvolle preferred a life of activity to one of ease. Not much else is known about his early life. He sails with Iberville on the first voyage to Louisiana aboard the Marin. He holds dual ranks of ship's ensign and Lieutenant in Bellcourt's Company of Marines. |
| 1699 February |
Accompanies Iberville and Bienville on their explorations along Mississippi and Alabama coasts. |
| 1699 March 24 |
Participated in Iberville s ascent of the Mississippi River. He assumes command of the expedition when Iberville sets out to investigate the Manchac-Amite-Lake Pontchartrain route to the Gulf March . Iberville wants him to take soundings, at the mouth of the river while returning to the French ships anchored near Ship Island, but was unable to comply because of bad we |
| 1699 May 2 |
Appointed commandant of Ft. Maurepas by Iberville. After assuming command of the post he devoted most of his time to fostering good relations with neighboring tribes, to organizing small expeditions to explore the La, Miss. and Alabama coastal areas and to maintaining the rapidly deteriorating wooden fort. |
| 1700 January |
Iberville returns from France with royal commissions for
the officers of the colony. Sauvolle is commissioned governor, Bienville
lieutenant-governor and Boisbriant
a major. Sauvolle seeks relations with the neighboring Indian tribes. such as the Biloxi, Pascagoula, Bayagoula, Mobilian, Natchez, etc. He sends an expedition overland to the Natchez on the Mississippi. The expedition reports that it had found one river 4 days' journey from the fort which was believed to be the Colapissas (Pearl). Writing of the reputed abundance of pearls. he said that he had never actually seen any, but had been informed that there were a great many in the Colapissas river. He wrote a detailed journal, of the first few years in Louisiana. |
| 1701 August 21 |
Dies at Fort Maurepas from a malignant fever, most likely yellow fever, which had devastated the ranks of the new colony. Historians have repeatedly asserted that Sauvolle was a brother of Iberville and Bienville, François Marie, Sieur de Sauvolle, but there is nothing in the letters or journal of Sauvolle, Iberville or Bienville to support this. |