The Exploration of Samuel de Champlain

Samuel de Champlain was born to seafaring family. He is considered the father of New France. Champlain made his first voyage to the "New France" in 1603. On that voyage, he was a crew member on a voyage up the St. Lawrence led by Francois Grave Dupont. He had no official position on that trip, but he surveyed the river. On his return to France Champlain published an account of the voyage.

See Area of Voyages

In 1604, Champlain returned to New France with Siuer de Monts, who planned to establish a settlement in Acadia. Champlain was given the responsibility of finding a suitable location for a permanent settlement. Champlain explored south along the coast of New England. The leaders of Acadia could not agree on a location of a settlement, until it was finally decided to establish the settlement at Quebec. The location was considered excellent, as they could control the fur trade with the interior. Champlain established the settlement a Quebec. He established alliances with local Indian tribes, such as the Huron and the Montagnais. He supported the Hurons in a war against the Iroquois. Champlain was committed to making Quebec the center of a French empire in the New World.