 |
|
|
Samuel
De Champlain
(c. 1570-1635):
Father of New France
|
|
Little is known
about Champlain's early life. He was born in France and grew up
in a seaport town. He served in the army where he learned how to
navigate. He made a trip to the West Indies, which gave him a chance
to practice making maps and recording observations of what he saw.
He was a very careful observer and always tried to see things
without judging them.
In 1603 Champlain
made the first of many trips to North America. He sailed the
St. Lawrence River and mapped most of it. Champlain recognized
that the area had potential to be a good place to establish a colony.
He returned and started the first settlement at Quebec in 1608.
In 1609 he battled the Iroquois
and started a war that lasted 90 years.
Champlain took
good care of the colonists. The winters were long and cold so he
started a group called the Order of Good Cheer. Banquets
and entertainment were held to cheer up the settlers.
He had to
leave Quebec in 1629, when the English captured the settlement.
He returned in 1633, and died there two years later.
 |
|
What
do you think Champlain's most important accomplishment was?
|
Back
to Personnalities Page
|
