Samuel de Champlain was a French explorer and governor of New France. Additionally, he founded Quebec in 1608.

Expeditions

Samuel de Champlain was responsible for pushing expeditions upriver in pursuit of expanding the fur trade, including encouraging Etienne Brule to explore Lake Superior in approximately 1622. Similarly, he sent Jean Nicolet to explore further west in 1634.

Samuel de Champlain died on Christmas Day in 1634, after learning of the existence of Lake Michigan and the Green Bay.

Learn More

Samuel de Champlain

See more images, essays, newspapers and records about John Muir.

Dictionary of Wisconsin History

Explore more than 1,600 people, places and events in Wisconsin history.