The Writer’s Almanac with Garrison Keillor tells us:
On this day in 1718, the French Canadian Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville discovered the city that would come to be called Crescent City, the Big Easy, and the City That Care Forgot. But he called it La Nouvelle Orléans, New Orleans, named for Philippe d’Orléans, the Regent of France.
Follow the link above to read a little about New Orleans’ literary history, including a comment from David Simon on the uniqueness of the city.
Also this — The Founding French Fathers of New Orleans.
Mr. Keillor is usually pretty careful with words. Did Jean-Baptiste really find a city when he arrived at the site of present-day New Orleans?
Ooh, good catch, Wally.