Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, (baptized Feb. 23, 1680, Montreal, New France [now in Canada]—died March 7, 1767, Paris, Fr.), French explorer, colonial governor of Louisiana, and founder of New Orleans.. Jean-Baptiste was the eighth son of Canadian pioneer Charles Le Moyne. He entered the French navy at age 12 and served with his noted elder brother, Pierre Le Moyne d’ Iberville, in ...