Introduction and Background Information

More Information About His Travels

    Champlain's earliest travels were with his uncle. He went far to Spain and the West Indies. He joined François Gravé Du Pont's expedition to Canada in 1603. Champlain was chosen to be geographer on an expedition to Acadia led by Lieutenant General Pierre Du Gua de Monts. They landed in May on the southeast coast of what is now Nova Scotia and Champlain was asked to choose a location for a temporary settlement. He explored the Bay of Fundy and St. John River area before selecting a small island in the St. Croix River. The team built a fort and spent a whole winter there. In the summer of 1605, the team sailed down the coast of New England as far south as Cape Cod. Although a few British explorers had navigated the terrain before, Champlain was the first to give a precise and detailed accounting of the region that would one day become Plymouth Rock.

           Samuel de Champlain was born in 1574 in Brouage a small port town in France. He discovered what is now Canada. He sailed with his uncle. He began exploring North America in 1603 establishing the city of Quebec in the northern colony of New France. Sadly, he died on December 25, 1635, in Quebec.

Quick Facts 

               Name

Samuel de Champlain 

        Occupation

Diplomat, Explorer

          Death Date

  December 25, 1635

            Place of Birth 

     Brouage, Province of Saintonge, France

         Place of Death

Quebec, Canada

                    AKA 

Samuel Champlain

                Full Name

Samuel de Champlain

           Sailed for

       France