Samuel de Champlain The Father of New France

Biography BornAbout 1567 in Brouage, France Died December 25, 1635 in Quebec, Canada Nationality French OccupationExplorer, navigator, cartographer Wife Helene Boulle (married in 1610)

Early Career  Joined the French Army at age 20  Fought in the war between the Protestants and the Catholics  Fought on the Catholic side  Served in the army until 1598

Early Travels  1599 – 1601  Commander of the Saint Julien  Visited West Indies, Mexico, and Panama  Wrote a book about voyages  Proposed construction of a canal across Isthmus of Panama

First North American Voyage  1603  Observer and royal geographer on the Bonne- Renommee′ (The Good Fame)  Explorations  St. Lawrence River from rapids above Montreal to Quebec  Created map of St. Lawrence River  One of the first Europeans to see Niagara Falls  Returned to France on September 20, 1603  Wrote a book about his travels

Second North American Voyage  1604 – 1607  Purpose of voyage  Establish a settlement  Develop fur trade  Find a Northwest Passage  Explorations  Settlement on Island of St. Croix – moved to Port Royal  Atlantic Coast from Nova Scotia to Cape Cod  Made maps of Atlantic coast

Third North American Voyage  1608  Commander of Le Don de Dieu (The Gift of God)  Purpose of the voyage to establish a fur-trading post  Founded first permanent settlement in Canada  July 3, 1608  Named Quebec – named by Indians  Only 9 of 29 men survived the first winter

Champlain and the Native Americans  Friendship with the Algonquin and Huron Indians  Indians promised to help with fur trade  Indians served as guides through parts of Canada  Champlain offered military aid to fight Iroquois Indians  Alliance lasted for more than 100 years

Discovery of Lake Champlain  1609  Traveled inland from the St. Lawrence River with Huron Indians  Discovered Lake Champlain  Champlain and the Hurons fought the Iroquois at the lake  Used muskets  Killed 2 chiefs with one shot  Champlain and Hurons won battle

Later Explorations  1610 – 1624  Traveled back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean  More than 20 voyages  Married Helene Boulle on December 29, 1610  1613 – 1615  Explored interior of Canada and New York State  Ottawa River  Lake Huron and Lake Ontario  Helped the Hurons fight the Iroquois Indians  Hurt in knee by an Iroquois arrow

Travels of Champlain Courtesy of

Later Life – Post Exploration  1620 – 1635: Commander of New France  After 1620 Champlain focused on governing Quebec  1628: War between England and France  1629: Surrendered Quebec to English  Held prisoner in England  1632: Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye  England gave Quebec back to France

Death of Samuel de Champlain  1633: Returned to Quebec as Commander  1635: Champlain died  Christmas Day  In Quebec  Caused by a stroke

Conclusion  Founder of first permanent European settlement in Canada  This year Canada celebrated the 400th anniversary of Champlain’s founding of Quebec  Discovered Lake Champlain  Created detailed maps of Atlantic coast and St. Lawrence River  Strove to establish peaceful relations with the many Indian nations he encountered