Obituary: Samuel De Champlain
Obituary: Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain, who has died aged 61, was a French navigator and soldier. He is important to Canadian history because he helped establish the settlements. He founded New France and Quebec City as well.
Early experience
In 1604, he was made an assistant to the Sieur de Monts, who was a French noble appointed by the king of France to set up trading posts in Canada. In the summer of 1605, de Monts, Champlain and approximately sixty settlers and established a small post called “Port Royal” in what is now Nova Scotia. However, it was not a great success, and it was abandoned by 1607. Even Champlain’s cooking club, The Company of Good Cheer, could not hold the group together. Champlain was still convinced that …show more content…
Canada could be profitable, so he led an expedition up the St. Lawrence in 1608. Arriving at what is now Quebec City, he established a habitation at Quebec.
Relations and war with the natives
In Quebec, he met the Algonkians and the Montagnais, Native hunters from northern forests.
Champlain allied with the Algonkians and Montagnais against the Iroquois. He also met the Hurons from the west. Because the Hurons told him that furs could also be found in their territories, he was eager to form an alliance with the Hurons and to use Huron trading connections.
The Algonkians and the Montagnais were uneasy about the prospect of Champlain forging links with the mighty Huron nation.
Trading with natives
Champlain forth between Canada and France to look for money and trading ventures. Hats made from beaver fur were becoming the rage in Europe, and North America seemed to be a place where money could be made.
In 1613, Champlain became a partner in a trading company with a monopoly in Canada.
Champlain began sending out young man, called coureurs de bois, to explore the Great Lakes region.
In 1615, Champlain accepted an invitation from Hurons to visit them in their own land, after which Champlain recorded his observations of Huron culture. By 1616, the Hurons were supplying most of the beaver furs along the St. Lawrence.
For keeping his venture going, he tried to stop people from coming to farm at the habitation.
Champlain’s
colony
When Champlain’s colony was attacked by the English Kirke brothers, the Algonkians guided the English and refused to help the French. Champlain was captured and taken prisoner. However, the Algonkians and the Montagnais had turned on the French because they were uneasy about the prospect of Champlain forging links with the mighty Huron nation.
Fortunately, Champlain’s colony did not die. When he was in his sixties, a new company—The Company of a Hundred Associates—took over. Champlain returned to Quebec and began to rebuild the colony and set up new posts in the Company’s name at different places along the river.
A few years later, Champlain died on Christmas Day.
Samuel de Champlain, who has died aged 61, was a French navigator and soldier. He is important to Canadian history because he helped establish the settlements. He founded New France and Quebec City as well.
Early experience
In 1604, he was made an assistant to the Sieur de Monts, who was a French noble appointed by the king of France to set up trading posts in Canada. In the summer of 1605, de Monts, Champlain and approximately sixty settlers and established a small post called “Port Royal” in what is now Nova Scotia. However, it was not a great success, and it was abandoned by 1607. Even Champlain’s cooking club, The Company of Good Cheer, could not hold the group together. Champlain was still convinced that …show more content…
Canada could be profitable, so he led an expedition up the St. Lawrence in 1608. Arriving at what is now Quebec City, he established a habitation at Quebec.
Relations and war with the natives
In Quebec, he met the Algonkians and the Montagnais, Native hunters from northern forests.
Champlain allied with the Algonkians and Montagnais against the Iroquois. He also met the Hurons from the west. Because the Hurons told him that furs could also be found in their territories, he was eager to form an alliance with the Hurons and to use Huron trading connections.
The Algonkians and the Montagnais were uneasy about the prospect of Champlain forging links with the mighty Huron nation.
Trading with natives
Champlain forth between Canada and France to look for money and trading ventures. Hats made from beaver fur were becoming the rage in Europe, and North America seemed to be a place where money could be made.
In 1613, Champlain became a partner in a trading company with a monopoly in Canada.
Champlain began sending out young man, called coureurs de bois, to explore the Great Lakes region.
In 1615, Champlain accepted an invitation from Hurons to visit them in their own land, after which Champlain recorded his observations of Huron culture. By 1616, the Hurons were supplying most of the beaver furs along the St. Lawrence.
For keeping his venture going, he tried to stop people from coming to farm at the habitation.
Champlain’s
colony
When Champlain’s colony was attacked by the English Kirke brothers, the Algonkians guided the English and refused to help the French. Champlain was captured and taken prisoner. However, the Algonkians and the Montagnais had turned on the French because they were uneasy about the prospect of Champlain forging links with the mighty Huron nation.
Fortunately, Champlain’s colony did not die. When he was in his sixties, a new company—The Company of a Hundred Associates—took over. Champlain returned to Quebec and began to rebuild the colony and set up new posts in the Company’s name at different places along the river.
A few years later, Champlain died on Christmas Day.