Jacques Cartier!
May 10, 2023
Jacques Cartier was born in 1491 in Saint-Mayo, Brittany, France.
He led three expeditions to Canada, one in 1534, 1535, and 1541.
In 1534, France is the first order to Cartier to find a short route to the Pacific Ocean
through, or around, North America to East Asia.
He sent two vessels and 61 crew members.
After two and a half weeks, he was already sailing down the coast of Newfoundland, Canada,
discovering Prince Edward Island.
He entered the Strait of Belle Isles.
They then crossed paths with 50 canoes filled with Mi'kmaq Indians.
Cartier and his men traded goods and celebrated with them.
On his return, Jacques Cartier took possession of the Gas Peninsula, with no luck finding
the passage through North America.
In 1535, France is the first sent him again.
He sailed up the St. Lawrence River.
Cartier then spent winter in a Huron's village.
Many of his men died from scurvy.
Less than one-tenth of his men remained strong enough to continue to find the passage through
North America.
Before going back to France, Cartier kidnapped 11 Indians and their chief, hoping that they
would tell him where the gold mine was.
In 1541, Jacques Cartier wanted to look for Saint-Germain.
France is the first sent Jean Reverval with Cartier, and Reverval made a colony.
The colony was made up of prisoners that were willing to join the expedition.
Cartier went first, while Reverval waited for his recruits.
When Reverval arrived on the supply vessel, he realized that Cartier went back to France
and left him with a colony of murderers and robbers.
Jacques Cartier never found the Northwest Passage, but he did discover the St. Lawrence
River in Quebec, Canada.
He also gave Canada the great name Kanata, which means village or settlement in the Huron-Iroquois language.

