Jacques Cartier essays

Jacques Cartier essays Jacques Cartier is recognized as the European discover of the St. Lawrence River, he also discovered the Magdalene Islands and Prince Edward Island. Jacques Cartier was born in 1491 at St. Malo, Brittiany; Cartier made three voyages to North America between 1534 and 1542. On the first (1534), he thoroughly explored the Gulf of St. Lawrence, claimed the Gaspe Peninsula for France, and took two Laurentian Iroquois home with him to learn French. Jacques Cartier is recognized as the European discoverer of the St. Lawrence River. On the second voyage (1535-36), he used the two Indian interpreter-guides to pilot him up the St. Lawrence River to Quebec (Stadacona). He continued to Montreal (Hochelaga) without them but was discouraged from continuing farther west by the rapids and cold weather. Wintering in Quebec (Stadacona), 25 members of his crew died from scurvy before the discovery of a brew of white cedar saved the rest. He arrived back at St. Malo in July 1536. On his third voyage (1541-42), Cartier was obliged to serve under the nominal command of Jean Francois de la Rocque de Roberval, all though the latter did not sail with him. Cartier founded a settlement near Quebec (Stadacona), discovered quartz he thought to be diamonds and iron pyrites he thought to be gold, and again travel as far as Montreal (Hochelaga). He winter near Quebec (Stadacona), where at least 35 members of his crew were apparently kill by Iroquois. This third voyage also helped pave the way for Samuel de Champlains expeditions; it was the search for a Northwest Passage that brought Cartier into the St. Lawrence River in 1534. The colony, under the sieur de Roberval, was a failure, and for the time being France lost interest in Canada. Cartier retired to St-Malo, where he served as an adviser on navigation. He died on September 1, 1557. ...