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Paul Martin
In high school, Paul Martin dreamed of becoming a famous athlete. Instead, Martin followed in his father’s footsteps by entering politics. In December 2003, he became the prime minister of Canada.
EARLY LIFE
Paul Martin was born in 1938 in Windsor, Ontario. His father, Paul Martin, Sr., was a powerful member of Canada’s Liberal Party. In 1946, when young Martin was eight years old, he was diagnosed with polio, a serious disease. He made a full recovery.
Pirates
Suddenly, across the green-foam waves a ship’s sail is sighted across the rolling waves. No country’s flag flaps atop the ship’s mast. Is this a pirate ship? The very word—Pirate!—stirs fear. Pirates are thieves. They swoop in blasting their cannons, fighting with swords and pistols. Pirates attack towns as well as ships.
Pirates are enemies of all countries. A pirate captain and his crew work outside the law. Any country may capture a pirate and put the culprit on trial for piracy.
Queen Victoria
Have you ever pretended that you were royalty? Sometimes in history, a child or a teenager has actually become a king or queen. One such case happened in 1837, when King William IV of Great Britain died and the crown passed to his 18-year-old niece, Alexandrina Victoria. Suddenly, the teenager became Queen Victoria, ruler of the British Empire.
For the next 63 years, Victoria ruled over a growing empire that included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, and parts of Africa. Victoria ruled longer than any monarch in British history. These years became known as the Victorian era.
Queen Elizabeth I
Elizabeth’s parents were disappointed when she was born. They desperately wanted a son. But Elizabeth eventually became one of England’s greatest rulers.
ELIZABETH’S YOUTH
Elizabeth Tudor was born in 1533. Her father, King Henry VIII of England, had Elizabeth’s mother beheaded so he could marry again. He wanted to have a son to be king after him.
Roald Amundsen
Explorer Roald Amundsen was a hero twice over! He was the first person ever to reach the South Pole. And he died during a brave, risky quest to rescue a friend.
EARLY YEARS
Amundsen was born in Norway in 1872. After studying medicine in college, he joined the Norwegian navy and went to sea.
SAILING THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE
Amundsen led his first expedition beginning in 1903. For three years he voyaged through the Northwest Passage, an east-west sea route north of Canada.