Champlain, soldier and navy captain, 1609
Based on detail of the engraving Defeat of the Iroquois at Lake Champlain Champlain,
The Voyages, 1613
National Library of Canada
1575:
Born in
Brouage, France,
circa 1575; son of Antoine, a navy captain, and of Marguerite Leroy.
Childhood in Brouage, where ships were fitted out for fishing off the coast
of Newfoundland.
1595:
Assistant to
the billet master in Brittany’s royal army.
1597:
Captain in a
company stationed at Quimper.
1598:
Billet
master.
1599:
Travelled to
Spain and the "West Indies"; stayed in Peru and Mexico.
1601:
Inherited a
large property near La Rochelle.
Received a pension from the court of Henri IV of France.
1603:
Volunteered
to travel to Canada to investigate the establishment of a settlement in New
France. Champlain sojourned at Tadoussac and explored the Saint Lawrence
River up to Montreal with Gravé du Pont.
1603-1604:
Explored Acadia
and wintered at Sainte-Croix island.
1604-1605:
Sojourned at Port
Royal.
1608:
Founded
Quebec and ordered the first settlement to be built at the foot of Cap
Diamant.
1609:
Took part in
his first battle against the Iroquois near the lake that was named after
him.
1610:
Married
Hélène Boullé.
1613:
Explored the
Ottawa Valley up to île aux Allumettes.
1615:
Completed his
exploration of the Ottawa Valley and reached Huronia. Took part in a raid
into Iroquois territory.
1618 - 1625:
Appointed lieutenant to the Viceroy of New France. Presented the
King of France with a trade colonization programme, showing that he was a
farsighted and practical administrator.
1626:
Ordered the
building of a second settlement at Quebec.
1628 - 1629:
Under
the Kirkes’ blockade, had to surrender Quebec to the English privateers in
July 1629, two months after the Peace of Susa was signed.
1632:
Quebec is given
back to France.
1634:
Appointed the
representative of Cardinal Richelieu and became a shareholder in the Company
of One Hundred Associates.
1635:
Died at Quebec
on December 25, 1635.
In short, over a period of 32 years, Champlain crossed the Atlantic
22 times and travelled 35,000 kilometres. He lived on the banks of the St.
Lawrence River throughout the year.
