Fort de La Présentation, founded in 1749 by Abbé Picquet at the junction of the Oswegatchie and St. Lawrence rivers, was a French mission fort that joined religion, diplomacy, trade, and defense in support of New France. Built to strengthen ties with Iroquois communities, encourage Catholic conversion, and guard a strategic waterway, it quickly grew from a tiny post into a large Native settlement loyal to France. During the French and Indian War it became an important military and communications link and a base for raids. Evacuated in 1759, it was later occupied by the British, renamed Fort Oswegatchie, and eventually became the site of Ogdensburg.