Sieur de Roberval

Roberval, Sieur de (Jean François de la Rocque; 1500?–60?), French explorer who led one of the first expeditions to colonize Canada. He was named lieutenant general and viceroy of Canada by Francis I. In 1542 he and a group of 200 settlers landed in the supposedly mineral-rich territory of Newfoundland previously explored by Jacques Cartier. Many of the colonists did not survive the year, and no mineral riches were found. A later expedition also proved unsuccessful. His death was the result of murder.

See also: Canada.