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Samuel de Champlain
Samuel De Champlains Life -
Meeting the Natives
Champlain establishes Quebec City at a strategic location overlooking a narrow section of the St. Lawrence River. He establishes alliances with the Algonquin, Huron and Montagnais tribes for control of the fur trade. -
Bitawkagok
Champlain arrives to Lake “Bitawkagok” (the waters between) by its residents. He describes the northern part of the lake: “There are many pretty islands here, low, and containing very fine woods and meadows, with abundance of fowl and such animals of the chase as stags, fallow-deer, fawns, roe-bucks, bears, and others, which go from the mainland to these islands. We captured a large number of these animals. There are also many beavers, not only in numerous other little ones that flow into it.” -
Exploration
Champlain travels down into the Broad Lake, noting Isle La Motte, North Hero, South Hero, and Valcour islands in his journal. -
Green Mountains
In his journal, Champlain describes the Green Mountains: “very high mountains on the eastern side, on top of which there was snow;” and the valleys:“with plains productive in grain… together with many kinds of fruit without limit." -
WAR!
After locating their enemy the evening before, the war party engages a party of Iroquois in battle at Ticonderoga. Champlain and his men kill all three Iroquois chiefs with their arquebuse, causing a rout. Champlain names the lake for himself. -
Would you marry me?
In the church of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois in France, Champlain marries Hélène Boullé. At the time, he was in his mid-thirties, and she had just turned 12. He later brings her to New France where she stays for a period of time. -
Colony
A European colony is established by Champlain on the Island of Montreal. -
SAINT-HELENE
Champlain names Sainte-Hélène island after his wife named Hélène Boullé. -
Search
Champlain travels along and maps the Ottawa River in search of the Northwest Passage. The Ottawa River will serve as the primary French trading route west for 200 years. -
OUCH!
After following the Ottawa River to the Mattawa River, crossing Lake Nipissing and traveling along the French River in present day northern Ontario, Champlain arrives to Lake Huron. From there, he and his Huron guides go south. They cross Lake Ontario and find an Iroquois village. They attack, but their assault fails and Champlain is wounded. -
Bonjour France
Champlain heals from his wounds in a Huron village where he sketches and records the customs of the inhabitants. He returns to France. -
Yes, Sir!
Champlain returns to Quebec where he takes up an administrative role as governor of New France. He continues working in this capacity for the rest of his life. -
Help !
Upon returning to France, Champlain learned that the taking over of Québec actually took place after the end of the war between England and France. Champlain began a terrible battle and went all the way to London to ask for the help of the French ambassador to save the young colony. Québec is finally restored to France in 1632 by the treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. -
The Death
Champlain dies in Quebec.
