News and Society

Little is known about Jacques Cartier's early life, but it is believed that he accompanied on a trans-Atlantic voyage of Florentine explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano on 1524. In 1534, he was sent by King Francis I to the New World in search for the new route to Asia and also to search for riches and treasures. His discovery of the St. Lawrence River enabled France to claim the land which is now became Canada.

Before making three major North American voyages, he had already explored the America's particularly Brazil. In 1534, he was sent by King Francis I of France because of his experience in his voyages- on an expedition to the eastern coast of North America. It was called that time as the "northern lands". His primary quest is to search for a new passage to Asia and also to search for gold and spices.

He started his first major voyage to North America on April 20, 1534. His expedition was completed after twenty days which consist of two ships and 61 men. He had explored the western coast of Newfoundland, discovered the Magdalen Islands and Prince Edward Island (which he thought as the mainland)and also sailed through the gulf of Saint Lawrence.

When he returned to France, King Francis I was so impressed with the achievements of Cartier. The following year, he sent the famous explorer back, but this time with 3 ships and 110 men. His two Indian captives served as their guide on their second expedition. They have explored back to Saint Lawrence up to what is now Montreal. He was welcomed by the Iroquois and told Cartier that there were other rivers in the west where gold, silver and spices can be found. They waited until the rivers became free of ice and captured some of Iroquois chief's before returning to France. Upon arrival to France, he reported to King Francis I that there was a river in the west that may have riches and possibly led to Asia.

On his third voyage on May 1541, he was under the command of Jean- Francois de la Rocque de Roberval. This third expedition consists of five ships. He was sent to establish a permanent settlement in St. Lawrence River. He returned to France in 1542 and settled in his hometown in Saint Malo, France until his death on September 1, 1557.

Jacques Cartier major accomplishment is when he gave Canada its name when he misunderstood the Iroquois word for village "kanata". He is also credited for discovering the Prince Edward Island in 1534. He was also the first of the European explorers to explore the Gulf of Saint Lawrence as well as to chart the Saint Lawrence River. He has three major expeditions where he led three voyages to the Saint Lawrence Region in 1534, 1535-1536 and the last expedition on 1541-1542.

Browse more biographies at European-Explorers.

View the original article here