Samuel de Champlain — explorer, cartographer, administrator and diplomat to the Native American peoples he encountered — made twelve voyages to North America between 1603 and 1633. He authored four accounts of his explorations and observations, each published in his own day and lavishly illustrated with maps and engravings. Champlain’s Works became increasingly popular after his death and ultimately shaped the founding narratives of the colonization of northeastern North America and the creation of New France. In this volume, Gayle K. Brunelle offers a thorough and balanced examination of Champlain’s life and career, and invites students to consider how, through his explorations, his writings, and his remarkable maps, Champlain shaped our understanding of early North American history. Document headnotes, maps and illustrations, a chronology of events, questions to consider, a selected bibliography, and an index are provided to enrich student understanding.

A lavishly illustrated book on life and adventures of the father of New France.

Traces the story of Quebec's founder while explaining his influential perspectives about peaceful colonialism, in a profile that also evaluates his contributions as a soldier, mariner, and cultural diplomat.

The French explorer, surveyor, cartographer, and diplomat Samuel de Champlain (c. 1575-1635) is often called the Father of New France for founding the settlement that became Quebec City, governing New France, and mapping much of the St. Lawrence and eastern Great Lakes region. Champlain was also a prolific writer who documented his experiences in the Americas, including his travels, impressions of the New World, and encounters and alliances with native peoples.

Read about the life of this explorer from France who wanted to learn about a part of Canada known as New France.

A navigator and cartographer, Samuel de Champlain’s passion was for America, which he struggled to explore and have recognized. He still dreamed of reaching India, with its spices and its many riches, by continuing further to the West. But the land called New France – a harsh land from India – was his greatest love. He defended it fiercely to those in power in France and was responsible for its development. Champlain thus ensured the birth of the country that today is Canada. He is undisputedly the Father of New France.