Iberville 1661-1706
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1699 Historical Committee

Iberville 1661-1706, also, 1699 Historical Committee. . , On April 8, 1699, a naval force of French and Canadians commenced construction of Fort Maurepas at present day Ocean Springs, Mississippi. This French beachhead in the lower Mississippi River Valley was led by Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d'Iberville, native of Montreal, operating under the aegis of King Louis XIV of France. Chosen for his courage and successful exploits against the British at Hudson Bay, Newfoundland, and the Atlantic seaboard, Iberville's mission was to locate the mouth of the Mississippi River and establish a French presence on the Mexican Gulf and to discourage Spanish and English incursions into the area claimed in 1682 for France by La Salle. Fort Maurepas was abandoned in 1702, but was the base from which the first French settlement of Mobile, Alabama was established. Iberville continued his battles with the English in the Carribbean and expired there in 1706. His corporal remains were interred at Havana, Cuba., 1699 Historical Committee. , In March 1971, a group of citizens organized the 1699 Historical Committee to promote an interest in historical events of the Ocean Springs, Mississippi area. It is responsible for the annual l'berville Landing Commemoration held in late April and was instrumental in having the Fort Maurepas replication commenced in 1981. The Committee gave input to the City for the vision to create the present day Fort Maurepas Park after the Fort replica was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina on August 29th, 2005. Mathilda Bradford 'Betty' Milstead (1913-2009) was the first president of the 1699 Historical Committee Others who have served with distinction are: Dolores D. 'Bobby' Smith (1916-1997), Ethalyn Conner, and Mary Lee Terry. , Portrayers of Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville Celebration to Commemorate the French Landing of April 1699 , Names and dates listed