Etienne Brûlé

Etienne Brûlé was a French explorer and interpreter believed to be the first European to explore the Ottawa Valley and the Canadian Great Lakes. Though Brûlé kept no records of his extensive journeys, a picture of his remarkable life emerges from the writings of key figures in New France. Samuel de Champlain had granted a young Brûlé permission to live among the Hurons in 1610, with Brûlé adopting Huron customs and mastering their language. In 1615, Brûlé journeyed deep into Huron country, reaching Lake Huron, Lake Simcoe and the site of present-day Buffalo, New York, though he was captured and tortured by the rival Iroquois while returning north. Brûlé was a controversial figure. His alliance with merchants opposed to French colonization led Champlain to accuse Brûlé of treason in 1629. In 1633, he was killed by the Huron.