2006 USA Scott#4074 39c Samuel de Champlain Mint NH Souvenir Sheet.

U.S. #4074
Voyage of Samuel de Champlain
Sheet of 4 Stamps

Issue Date: May 28, 2006
City: Washington, DC
Quantity Issued: 1,000,000

Samuel de Champlain (1567-1635) was a French explorer, navigator, and geographer born in Brouage, France. Beginning in 1599, he made several voyages to the West Indies, Mexico, and Panama.

A book Champlain wrote about his voyages and the riches of Mexico City interested King Henry IV. Henry was attracted to the wealth in America and also hoped the French could find a water passage through North America to Asia. In 1603, Champlain sailed to Canada and mapped the St. Lawrence River for the king.

Most charts of the time were made by professional cartographers who depended on information obtained from others. Champlain’s maps, however, were based on his own explorations. His maps defined the basic geography of the region for much of the 17th century.

In 1608, Champlain founded Quebec, Canada, the first permanent settlement in New France. He became friendly with the nearby Algonquin and Huron Indians and joined them in a raid on the Iroquois in what is now New York State. While there, Champlain discovered the lake that bears his name.

The Samuel de Champlain stamp commemorates the 400th anniversary of Champlain’s 1606 explorations of the Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia to Cape Cod.