Jacques Cartier 1491-1557

Cartier was the first to claim what is now called Canada, for France. He mapped the
Gulf of St. Lawrence and much of the St. Lawrence river. He tried a variety of
settlements but all were fairly ill-fated.

Samuel de Champlain 1575-1636

Samuel de Champlain is considered the Father of New France. He founded Qubec
City and lived there as its administrator for the rest of his life. It was Champlain who
opened up the fur trade from North American to France. Having the benefit of
Cartier's expeditions of the St. Lawrence river, de Champlain explored the Ottowa
River.

Jacques Marquette 1637-1675

Jacques Marquette founded Sault Ste. Marie which was Michigan's first European
settlement. In addition, he and Louis Jolliet are credited with mapping the northern
most point of the Mississippi River. Jolliet was a French Canadian.

Robert de LaSalle 1643-1687

La Salle is credited with claiming the basin of the Mississippi River for France. He
also explored the Great Lakes region, as well as the Gulf of Mexico. Despite his fame
in American history books, he must not have been a terribly well liked captain. On
his last expedition to set up a French settlement in the Gulf of Mexico, his crew
mutinied and one of the men murdered him.

Louis Hennepin 1626-1705

Baptized Antoine, Louis Hennepin was a Catholic priest and missionary/explorer who
explored much of the interior of North America. He is noted for discovering Niagra
Falls and Saint Anthony Falls. Saint Anthony Falls are the only waterfalls on the
Mississippi River.