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Who Was Samuel
Who Was Samuel One of Champlain’s first missions as an explorer was to find an overland route

de Champlain?
from North America to China. In the 1500s, people in the West travelled by sea
de Champlain? to China and other eastern countries, to buy valuable goods there. Travel by
sea was difficult, so explorers like Champlain began to look for an easier route
through the waterways of the new land. But in his search for a route to China,
Champlain soon learned that North America had its own wealth—in furs and
rich farming land. Champlain quickly built up important trade relations and
alliances with Indigenous
Samuel de Champlain was known as Peoples. He traded with them
the “Father of New France.” He was a for furs. Many think that this
great explorer, but he was also a soldier, was not done out of goodwill.
navigator, mapmaker, writer, and He wanted land and resources
administrator. Champlain helped France for France, and it is likely that
to colonize, or take control of, parts of he expected Indigenous
North America, and he lived there for many Peoples to become subjects Québec City
years. He met and traded with Indigenous of France, and to follow the
Peoples. While some people feel that Christian religion. Trois-Rivières ACADIA
he respected and tried to understand Nova
Indigenous Peoples’ cultures, others feel Scotia
that he did so only for the good of France. ONTARIO
Massachussetts
Little is known of Champlain’s early life. He is Champlain served
thought to have been born between August 8 in the French army
and August 12, 1574, in Hiers-Brouage, France. in the late 1500s.
The dates and places of his birth have been During that time, he New York
learned many skills
argued about for centuries. Even Champlain that would help
himself gave different accounts! What is him in his future
known is that he came from a family of explorations.
mariners, or people who sailed on the sea.
They were most likely traders and fishers. On the Move
Born into a mariner family, Champlain
learned to navigate from a young age. As an explorer, Champlain was tireless. In all, he crossed
the Atlantic Ocean 12 times between 1603 and 1635.
He explored the waterways and coasts of North America
from what is now Nova Scotia all the way
This monument south to Massachusetts. He travelled
Champlain is in Québec City from Québec to Ontario and New York.
born in Hiers- August honours Samuel Among his greatest achievements were
de Champlain.
Brouage, France. the founding of colonies at Acadia,
1574 Québec City, and Trois-Rivières.

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