Champlain’s voyages

On 15 March 1603 Samuel de Champlain left Honfleur, France, on an expedition to New France, sailing for the first time up the St Lawrence River. On a second voyage, in April 1604, he accompanied Pierre Dugua De Monts, François Gravé Du Pont, and others as an explorer and observer. Acadia was chosen as a site to establish a colony, first on Île Sainte-Croix and then at Port-Royal. Champlain was based there until 1607, exploring the North American coast three times. On 13 April 1608 he set out a third time for New France, travelling up the St Lawrence and arriving at the “point of Quebec” on 3 July, where he established a “habitation.” This time the settlement was permanent. From there he continued his explorations until 1615. Champlain, who left a geographic inventory of Acadia, the St Lawrence, and the Great Lakes, is also credited with establishing the foundations of New France.