Samuel de Champlain (Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913)

What it is

This is the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia entry on Samuel de Champlain. It calls him the founder of Quebec and father of New France. It gives his birthplace as Brouage and notes that his birth year is given as 1570 in some sources and as 1567 in the Bibliographie Saintongeoise. It states that he died at Quebec on 25 December 1635. The entry quotes his own words on navigation and its value for exploring America and spreading Christianity.

Why it matters

This encyclopedia entry presents Champlain through a religious lens, which was common in reference works of its time. Its quotations from his writing help readers see how he himself explained the purpose of his voyages. Comparing this summary with Champlain's own texts helps students separate what he wrote from what later writers emphasized.

Look closer

• The entry says Champlain's birth year could be 1570 or 1567. Why might historians disagree, and how would you find out?
• The quotation describes navigation as a way to spread Christianity. What does this reveal about the aims of exploration in that period?
• What might a reference article leave out when it presents one person as the founder of a country?