Pierre Laclède was a French fur trader and explorer, best known for founding the city of St. Louis in Missouri in 1764. He arrived in North America in the mid-18th century and recognized the strategic importance of the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers for trade and settlement. Laclède established a trading post that would grow into a bustling city. He played a significant role in the early development of the region, working alongside his stepson, Auguste Chouteau, to expand trade and attract settlers. His contributions laid the groundwork for what would become a major urban center in the United States.