Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto (c. 1500-1542), French priest Jacques Marquette (1637-1675), and French explorer René-Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle (1643-1687) all explored the Mississippi River area.
The first was Hernando de Soto.The next one was more than 100 years later.
La salle
He was the first European to sail the Mississippi River.
Jean Nicollet was the first European who travel through the Great Lakes area. he was a French explorer who visited the Lake Michigan that possibly reached the Mississippi River.
Robert La Salle explored the Mississippi River in North America. He was the first European to sail down Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. France
natchez
Portugal was the first country to sail eastward. Vasco da Gama was the first to sail around Africa and discover India
Vasco da Gama
Captain Cook
He lead the first European expedition deep into the territory of the modern-day United States, and was the first European documented to have crossed the Mississippi River.
MAGELLEN
Bartolomeu Dias
Rene-Robert La Salle's major accomplishment was the exploration of the Mississippi River. In 1682, he led an expedition down the river, becoming the first European to navigate its entire length and claim the entire Mississippi River watershed for France. His exploration opened up new territories for colonization and trade in North America.