Samuel de Champlain

Champlain's geographic discoveries of 1603 - 1612 had profound cartographic and political effects. His own mapmaker, Champlain drew the most comprehensive and accurate maps of a vast portion of North America. His discoveries and claims in the New World established French possession of what we know as New France.

Exploring the St. Lawrence, Champlain founded what became the city of Quebec. He initiated the cartography of the Great Lakes and, to the south, he mapped the New England coast including Boston harbor, Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard.