CHAMPLAIN 



1266 



CHANCELLOR 



almost evenly balanced, any superiority exist- 

 ing being on the side of the British. After 

 severe fighting and heavy losses on both sides 

 the British were defeated. 



CHAMPLAIN, SAMUEL DE (1567-1635), a 

 French explorer and colonial pioneer, the 

 founder of Quebec and known in history as 

 the "Father of New France." He was the 

 real creator of the French dominion in Amer- 

 ica. Parkman, the great historian of the 

 French in America, sketches him in these 

 words: 



"Of the pioneers of the North American for- 

 ests, his name stands foremost on the list. It 

 was he who struck the deepest and boldest 

 strokes into the heart of their pristine barbarism. 

 His character belonged partly to the past, partly 

 to the present. The preux chevalier, the cru- 

 sader, the romance-loving explorer, the curious 

 knowledge-seeking traveler, the practical navi- 

 gator, all found their share in him." 



Champlain was born in Brouage, a little 

 town on the Bay of Biscay. His father, a ship 

 captain, trained him in the principles of navi- 

 gation, but the boy entered the army. His 

 seaman's training stood him in good stead, 

 however, in 1599, 

 when he was of- 

 fered the com- 

 mand of one of 

 several vessels 

 about to sail to 

 the West Indies. 

 During the next 

 two years he vis- 

 ited all the prin- 

 cipal ports of 

 Mexico and the 

 West Indies and CHAMPLAIN 



even traveled m- Who laid the foundations 

 land to Mexico for a vast French domain in 

 ~. ,,. America. 



City. His ac- 

 count of this voyage, which brought him to the 

 notice of King Henry IV of France, is note- 

 worthy for one of the earliest suggestions, if 

 not the first, for a canal across the Isthmus of 

 Panama. 



His first voyage to Canada was made in 1603, 

 when he explored the Saint Lawrence River 

 as far as the Lachine Rapids. The riext year 

 he was back again, this time exploring the 

 coast as far south as Cape Cod. On this 

 second voyage his patron, Sieur de Monts, ac- 

 companied him and founded Port Royal (An- 

 napolis). In 1608, having persuaded De Monts 

 to establish a settlement on the Saint Law- 

 rence River, Champlain founded the settle- 



ment of Quebec, to which he gave its present 

 name. On his previous explorations he had 

 already established friendly relations with the 

 Algonquin and the Huron Indians, and in 1609 

 he joined them in a successful raid against the 

 Iroquois. In this expedition he discovered 

 the beautiful lake which has since borne his 

 name. Champlain's help at this time won for 

 the French the lasting friendship of the Algon- 

 quins, but also the hatred of the Iroquois, who 

 were forced to make friends first with the 

 Dutch and then with the English. This was 

 the beginning and perhaps the cause of much 

 murderous border warfare. 



After this exciting adventure Champlain re- 

 turned to France to tell his story and win 

 greater support for his colony. From 1613 

 until 1629 he crossed the Atlantic every year. 

 He was lieutenant-governor of the colony, but 

 he was more he was the very life of New 

 France. Yet he was not able to strengthen 

 and protect Quebec as much as was necessary, 

 and in 1629 was compelled to surrender his 

 settlement to an English fleet. Taken a pris- 

 oner to England, he was soon released, and 

 after Canada was restored to France in 1632 

 he returned to Quebec as lieutenant-governor. 

 He died on Christmas day, 1635. M.S. 



CHAMPS ELVS$ES,shahNzaleza',a Paris 

 boulevard, one of the most beautiful in Europe, 

 extending from the Place de la Concorde to the 

 Place de 1'Etoile. It is nearly 300 feet wide, 

 double the width of most American boulevards, 

 and l*A miles in length. At the end near the 

 Place de 1'Etoile is the famous Arc de Triomphe 

 erected to celebrate the victories of Napoleon 

 (see ARCH OF TRIUMPH). The boulevard is 

 lined with trees and contains scores of beautiful 

 buildings. There are many cafes, before which 

 those Frenchmen known as boulevardiers love 

 to sit and partake of refreshments while watch- 

 ing the passing stream of vehicles and pedes- 

 trians. See PARIS, subhead Boulevards, Ave- 

 nues, Park and Gardens. 



CHANCELLOR, chan'seler, a word meaning 

 originally doorkeeper, now used to designate 

 various important officers of the government. 

 In Germany, for instance, the chief adminis- 

 trator, in England known as the Prime Min- 

 ister, is called the Chancellor, Bismarck having 

 been the first to hold the title. 



In England the Lord High Chancellor is not 

 an administrative but a judicial officer, the 

 highest in the kingdom. He is the adviser of 

 the Crown and the Keeper of the Great Seal, 

 the official sign of royal authority. Only the 



