Who negotiated the Louisiana Purchase for 15 million dollars?

The negotiation of the Louisiana Purchase for 15 million dollars was primarily carried out by Robert Livingston, who was the U.S. Minister to France at the time. In 1803, he worked closely with James Monroe, who was sent to assist him in the negotiations. This monumental acquisition significantly expanded the territory of the United States, effectively doubling its size and providing vast tracts of land for settlement and development.

Livingston's diplomatic skills and understanding of the geopolitical climate of the time were critical in convincing the French government, under Napoleon Bonaparte, to sell the territory. The deal not only had immense economic implications but also helped establish the principle of manifest destiny, the idea that the U.S. was destined to expand across the North American continent.

While other figures like William Charles Cole Claiborne and Bernardo Galvez played important roles in the history of Louisiana and its governance, particularly after the purchase, they did not directly partake in negotiations for the acquisition itself. Pere Antoine de Sedella, known for his contributions as a priest and community leader in New Orleans, also was not involved in the negotiations of the purchase. Thus, the role of Robert Livingston in this historic transaction is pivotal and crucial to understanding the expansion of the United States during that period