Who founded the colony of Québec in 1608?

• A. Jacques Cartier
• B. Samuel de Champlain
• C. Henry Hudson
• D. John Cabot

Answer: (B)

Québec’s founding centers on establishing the first permanent French settlement in New France. Samuel de Champlain achieved this in 1608 by leading an expedition up the St. Lawrence River and establishing a fortified trading post at Quebec. This site became the base of the French colony, anchoring French presence in North America through the fur trade, mapmaking, and alliances with Indigenous groups. Champlain’s leadership and the settlement he created were crucial for turning a strategic location into a lasting colony.

Jacques Cartier had earlier explored and claimed parts of the region for France, but his voyages did not establish a permanent Québec settlement in 1608. Henry Hudson and John Cabot were exploring for other powers (the Dutch/English) and in different contexts, not founding the Québec colony.