Jacques Cartier

Jacques Cartier was born in 1491 in St. Malo, France. St. Malo is located in Brittany, a port city along the English Channel. It is thus likely that Cartier spent a great deal of time around the sea as a young man. Little is known about his early life. The year before his birth, St. Malo declared itself an independent republic from Brittany and France. While this republic only lasted until 1493, it reveals the regionalism and independence prevalent in small cities in Europe. 

Cartier set sail for France on April 20, 1534. His fleet had three ships: his flagship Grande Hermine, the Petite Hermine, and the Emerillon. Some historical accounts say that Giovanni da Verrazzano explored Newfoundland before Cartier. It is significant, however, that Cartier made the first systematic examination and settlement of the area. He made contact with the natives in the area, two of whom he captured and took back to France in September 1534.

These natives helped Cartier immensely on his second voyage because they served as interpreters. His second voyage set sail in May 1535 with the goal of exploring the St. Lawrence River, which Cartier thought would be the Northwest Passage. He established a military post at Stadacona, which would eventually become Quebec under Samuel de Champlain's leadership. Although his interpreters resisted, Cartier and his expedition continued up the river to Hochelaga. They returned to Stadacona for the winter, which proved difficult for two reasons. The physical conditions were rough. Moreover, the deteriorating relations with the native Iroquois added stress to the journey. Cartier's fleet returned to France in July 1536.

Meanwhile, Francis I had attempted to overthrow Charles V as Holy Roman Emperor. Failing at this, he turned to colonizing the New World. The third voyage was delayed until France and Spain declared a truce. Jean-Francois de La Rocque de Roberval was appointed leader of the expedition; Cartier became the Captain-General and pilot. Despite this arrangement, Cartier arrived in Canada long before Roberval. His third voyage left on May 23, 1541. This was the largest voyage thus far, with 1500 men and five ships. Cartier established another settlement, Charlesbourg-Royal. He surveyed the lands farther upriver; when the rapids in the river proved too difficult to pass, the expedition went on foot. They found gold and diamonds (which proved to be iron pyrite and quartz). They also continued to face difficulties with the natives in the area, whose chief plotted with the Stadacona chief against the French. On his return voyage, he met Roberval in Newfoundland. Roberval traveled to Charlesbourg-Royal, where he built up a colony there.

Cartier's fourth journey has little documentation. Some surmise that he returned to Canada between 1543-1544 to retrieve Roberval. He died in St. Malo in 1557.

Read more about the individual explorers:

Jacques Cartier | Samuel de Champlain | Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle

Find out about their watercraft:

How They Got There | Once They Arrived

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French Exploration