1643
Born in the port of Rouen, France, to wealthy family of merchants.
1658
Enters the Jesuit priesthood at age of 15 and gives up his share of family’s fortune.
1666
Leaves the Jesuit order to go to “New France” (Canada), where he settles in Ville Marie (now Montreal) with his brother, the Abbé Jean Cavelier.
1669
Explores the Ohio and Illinois river valleys with 12 men and his brother and sets up posts to trade in furs and hides with the Indians. His ultimate hope is to find a western route across North America to China and the East Indies.
1659
Guadalupe de los Mansos mission established
1665
San Francisco de la Toma and La Soledad missions established
1680
Pueblo Revolt, San Pedro de Alcántara, Sacremento, and San Lorenzo settlements established
1682
Ysleta, Senecú, and Socorro missions established
1683
Santa Gertrudis and Guadalupe de los Sumas missions and San Jose presidio and settlement established
1684
Mansos and others revolt, Paso del Rio presidio and Paso del Norte settlement established
1691
Nuestro Padre San Francisco mission established
1692
San Diego mission established, New Mexico reconquered
1707
Santa María Magdalena mission established
1710
Sumas revolt
1726
Mission established at San Lorenzo, Sumas revolt
1730
Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Caldas mission established
1745
Sumas revolt
1749
Sumas revolt
1760
Apache raids increase
1793
San Elizario presidio and settlement established
1821 Mexican independence from Spain
1824 Settlements of El Paso become part of Chihuahua
1835 Customs house established in Paso del Norte, first Anglos arrive in El Paso
1836 Texas independence from Mexico
1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo sets Rio Grande as border
1849 Settlement of Franklin established, later renamed El Paso
1852 Rio Grande shifts, making Socorro, Ysleta and San Elizario part of Texas
1871 Ysleta incorporated into El Paso county and Tiguas lose their land