Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain

[Hannah V Gelmotto]

Why did Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain travel to New France (which is now Quebec)

[James H Smith]

Jacques Cartier (1491-1557) was a French explorer of Breton origin (St. Malo).
He was the first European to penetrate the region of the St. Lawrence River. Under commission
of King Francis l, he set sail for the eastern coast of North America hoping to find a western
passage to Asia. In 1535 he established a fort at the Iroquois capital of Stadacona, later to become
Quebec City.

Samuel de Champlain (circa 1567/80-1635) was a French navigator (amongst
other things), who began exploring North America in 1603, under the guidance of François
Gravé du Pont. On 3rd July 1608 he established a French settlement, at the site of Cartier's
fort, which is now Quebec City. In 1620, Louis x111 ordered him the administration of the country,
and he served as Govenor of New France (albeit in name only, as he was not of noble birth)
He became known as "The Father of New France", and his name is wide-spread throughout
Canada, in the names of towns and engineering structures.

nb. The above citation is courtesy of Wikipedia.

[Tammy Slavvi]

James gave a very good short bio of these 2 great men but basically France was late in establishing its empire Jacques Cartier came to Canada about 100 years prior to Champlain who established the first permanent settlement in Canada. The English already had the US, Portugal had Brazil and Spain ruled the rest of South America. It was about time France did something thus following Samuel De Champlain France would send many more competent ppl to establish a colony.