Samuel Champlain (1567? -1635) Called the "Father of New France" Samuel du Champlain founded Quebec, the first permanent French settlement in North America. He also kept the struggling community alive during its early years. He explored Canada as far west as Lake Huron and also discovered the lake in New York that bears his name. Samuel du Champlain was born in 1567 in Brouage, a small French seaport on the Bay of Biscay. Little is known of …showed first 75 words of 924 total…

…showed last 75 words of 924 total…his command over Quebec. In 1618 he presented reports on the future of the French colonies in America to the king and to the French Chamber of Commerce. In 1629 the British seized Quebec, not knowing that a peace treaty with France had already been signed. Champlain was taken to England as a prisoner. He was released in 1632, and the colony was returned to France. He returned to Quebec as governor in 1633 and died there on Dec. 25, 1635.