Samuel de Champlain: Explorer and Colonizer

First Voyage

Champlain first went to Canada in 1603 to explore the area called New France. He was part of a trading mission. Just like Cartier, he learned about the Great Lakes and hoped that this would be a route to Asia.

Champlain explored the area called New France on his first voyage Copyright/Source

By mid-July, Champlain was in Gaspé. He hoped that Acadia was the key to the route to Asia. In September, Champlain was back in France.

Samuel Who?
No one had heard of Samuel de Champlain when he first came to New France. Probably about 33 years old at the time, he had no title or reputation. All that was to change.