Samuel de Champlain Facts

Samuel de Champlain

Picture of the explorer Samuel de Champlain

This article on  the biography and life of Samuel de Champlain provides facts and information about:

  • Who was Samuel de Champlain?
  • He is known as 'The Father of Canada'
  • Life and Biography of Samuel de Champlain
  • Fast information and interesting facts about Samuel de Champlain
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Facts about Samuel de Champlain
The following Fact File contains fast information about the life of Samuel de Champlain. Interesting facts and an overview and description of the life and times and his involvement in the Exploration and the discovery of the New World leading to the colonization of America.

Facts about Samuel de Champlain

Samuel de Champlain Fact 1Why was Samuel de Champlain famous and what part of America did he explore? In 1603 Samuel de Champlain set sail from France to Quebec. He was the Founder of Quebec City and known as 'The Father of Canada' He discovered Lake Champlain on the border between present day northern New York and Vermont  - Refer to the French in America

Replica of Don de Dieu - Samuel de Champlain's ship

Replica of Don de Dieu - Samuel de Champlain's ship
 

 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 2 When was Samuel de Champlain born? He was born on August 13, 1574, the son of ship's captain from a sea faring family
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 3 What was his country of origin and where was Samuel de Champlain born? He was born at Brouage, Saintonge in France
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 4 Acadia was the name given to lands in a portion of the French colonial empire in northeastern North America that included parts of eastern Quebec, the Maritime provinces and modern day New England, stretching as far south as Philadelphia.
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 5As a young boy Samuel de Champlain went with his father and his uncle on various voyages studied cartography, navigation, astronomy and mathematics
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 6In 1587 Samuel de Champlain joined the French military and accompanied his uncle who was Pilot-General for the Spanish fleet transporting Spanish soldiers from France to their Catholic allies in Spain.
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 7Through his connections with Spanish he joined the Spanish fleet, sailing on the 'St. Julien', in the New World in January 1599 to search for English privateers in the Caribbean
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 8Over the next 3 years from 1599 - 1602 his travels took him to Vera Cruz, Mexico, Columbia and Panama
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 9After his success with the Spanish he returned to France and settled in Dieppe, an important French port which was the home to famous map makers and other explorers such as Giovanni da Verrazzano, Jean Ribault and Jacques Cartier
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 10In 1602 Samuel de Champlain was given the opportunity to join an exploration led by a merchant named Pontgrave, and colonise lands in Quebec ('New France') by Aymar de Chaste who had obtained a monopoly of the fur trade and to set up a trading post at the port of Tadoussac in Quebec.
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 11March 15, 1603: He set sail from Honfleur, France in an expedition consisting of 2 ships for Quebec following the route indicated in Jacques Cartier's map
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 12The expedition arrived at Port Royal (Annapolis) in Arcadia where they set up a new colony and erected a fortified fort. Samuel de Champlain was then free to make further explorations in Quebec and search for a passage to the Indies.
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 13The French had made allies with the Algonquin Native Indians and in particular the Huron to help them fight against the Iroquois
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 14Samuel de Champlain and his expedition, including his Native Indian Allies, consisted of 24 canoes, 60 warriors and only three white men
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 15Samuel de Champlain discovered a great fresh water lake and named it Lake Champlain (on the border between present day northern New York and Vermont)
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 16The explorers fought with the Iroquois and the expedition returned to the colony of Quebec
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 17In 1603 he left the Quebec colony and returned to France with Pontgrave.
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 18In 1604 he returned to Acadia in the New World after joining an expedition as an historian and cartographer. The voyage was led by the navigator and fur trader Pierre Du Gua de Monts (1558-1628), who became his greatest supporter
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 19July, 1608: Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City and built his mansion there
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 20In 1610 he returned to France where he married Helene Boulle whose father was Nicolas Boulle, the Lord Chamberlain of France. He was 40 and she was just 12 years old - despite her young age the marriage was legal
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 21In 1611 Samuel de Champlain left his child bride in Paris and returned to Quebec to continue his exploration of the St. Lawrence river
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 221612 - 1613 he briefly retuned to France and then went on another exploration to the region above Sault Saint Louis
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 23In 1615 Samuel de Champlain made his last voyage to Lake Huron, in Ontario
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 24In 1628 war broke out between England and France and Samuel de Champlain surrendered Quebec to the English and returned to France
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 25A peace treaty was signed, and he returned to Quebec as Governor.
 
 
Samuel de Champlain Fact 26December 25, 1635: Samuel de Champlain died in Quebec aged 61, following a severe stroke.
 
 

Facts about Samuel de Champlain for Kids

Facts about Samuel de Champlain
This article contains a short biography in a fact file format in date order. Fast facts and information about the life of Samuel de Champlain. Who was Samuel de Champlain and why was he famous? When did he explore the New World of America? Which area of America did Samuel de Champlain explore? Read the fact file that provides fast access to interesting facts for kids about the life of this famous explorer and his place in the history of America.

Samuel de Champlain Facts for kids
The life and biography of Samuel de Champlain is presented in a short, easy fact file format that is highly suitable for kids. The facts about  are a fast and accurate way to gain a good understanding of the life of this famous man who played a major role in the Discovery of America. The facts include the major events in the life of Samuel de Champlain together with important dates and details of his family. For additional facts for kids and information refer to the additional articles including:

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Samuel de Champlain

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