French explorer Samuel de Champlain becomes the first known to sight, map, and describe the lake Champlain in North America on July 14, 1609. He named the lake after himself.
Champlain arrived at the lake traveling up the Richelieu River (then known as the Iroquois River) with a group of Algonquin, Huron, and Montagnais allies. Shortly after, on July 29, 1609, Champlain and his allies engaged in a battle against the