Jacques Cartier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jacques Cartier
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Portrait of Jacques Cartier by Théophile Hamel, ca. 1844. No contemporary portraits of Cartier are known.
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| Born | December 31, 1491 St. Malo, Duchy of Brittany
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| Died | September 1, 1557 (aged 65) St. Malo, Kingdom of France
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| Occupation | French navigator and explorer |
| Known for | First European to travel inland in North America. Claimed what is now known as Canada for France. |
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Jacques Cartier was a famous French explorer and navigator. He was born on December 31, 1491, in Saint-Malo, a town in Brittany, France. He lived until September 1, 1557.
Cartier made three important voyages to what is now Canada. He was one of the first Europeans to explore the St. Lawrence River. He also saw places like Prince Edward Island and the area around Montreal. These lands were home to First Nations people, including the Wendat (also known as Huron) and other Iroquoian tribes.
In the 1500s, European countries wanted to find new lands and riches. Spain and Portugal were already exploring the Americas. So, King Francis I of France asked Jacques Cartier to lead an expedition. Cartier was a skilled sailor from Saint-Malo, a town known for its sailors.
On his first trip in 1534, Cartier sailed to what is now Newfoundland and Labrador. His men took two sons of a Wendat chief, Donnacona, back to France. On his second trip, he returned them. But later, he captured Chief Donnacona and took him to France, where the chief died. Cartier also placed a large cross on the Gaspé Peninsula. This showed that France claimed the land.
On his third trip, Cartier tried to start a French colony on Wendat land. However, the Wendat people were not as friendly this time. After facing many difficulties, the French settlers had to return home.
Because Cartier was the first French explorer to visit Canada, France later claimed control over much of Eastern Canada.
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Cartier's First Voyage: 1534
In 1534, Jacques Cartier began his first voyage. He hoped to find a western route to the rich markets of Asia. He explored parts of Newfoundland and the Canadian Maritimes.
During this trip, he traded furs with the Micmac people. He learned about a large river further west, which was the St. Lawrence River. He hoped this river might be the passage to Asia.
However, Cartier did not sail up the St. Lawrence River on this first voyage. Instead, he entered the Bay of Gaspé. He landed near what is now Gaspé, Quebec. There, he planted a 30-foot cross to claim the land for France.
Cartier's Second Voyage: 1535-1536
Cartier started his second voyage on May 19 of the next year. He had three ships and 110 men. This time, he sailed into the St. Lawrence River. He went upriver and reached the Huron village of Stadacona. This is where Québec City is today.
Cartier used his smallest ship to continue further up the river. He visited Hochelaga, which is now Montreal. He arrived there on October 2, 1535. The place where they landed is now near the Jacques Cartier Bridge.
Cartier's Third Voyage: 1541-1542
On May 23, 1541, Cartier left Saint-Malo for his third voyage. He had five ships. This time, his main goals were different. He wanted to find the "Kingdom of Saguenay" and its riches. He also aimed to start a permanent French settlement along the St. Lawrence River.
Cartier chose a spot he had seen before, near what is now Cap-Rouge, Quebec. Convicts and other settlers were brought ashore. Cattle that had survived the long journey were set free. They started a garden, planting seeds for vegetables like cabbage and lettuce. This became a fortified settlement called Charlesbourg-Royal. Another fort was built nearby for extra protection.
In early June 1542, everyone boarded the ships again. They arrived back in Europe in October 1542. This was Cartier's last voyage. He spent the rest of his life in Saint-Malo. He died on September 1, 1557, at age 66, during an epidemic. He passed away before any lasting European settlements were made in Canada. That would happen later with Samuel de Champlain in 1608.
Cartier was a very skilled explorer. He made three long voyages into dangerous and unknown waters. He did not lose a single ship. He also entered and left about 50 unknown harbors without serious problems. This shows he was a very careful and successful explorer for his time.
Cartier was also one of the first to realize that the "New World" was a separate landmass. It was not connected to Europe or Asia.
Cartier's Legacy
Cartier found the entrance to the St. Lawrence River on his first trip. This opened up a major waterway for Europeans to explore North America. He also made a good estimate of Canada's natural resources and its people. However, he greatly exaggerated the amount of minerals there.
Some of his actions towards the St. Lawrence Iroquoians were not honorable. But he also tried to build friendships with them and other native peoples. This was important for future French settlements in their lands.
Cartier was the first to write down the name Canada. He used it to describe the land along the St. Lawrence River. The name comes from the Huron-Iroquois word kanata. This word means "village." Cartier thought it was the name for the whole new land. He used the name for Stadacona, the surrounding area, and the river itself. He also called the Iroquoian people he met there Canadiens.
Later, the name Canada was used for the small French colony in this area. The French colonists were called Canadiens. Much later, the name Canada began to be used for all of British North America. So, Cartier is not the first European to discover Canada as we know it today. That vast country stretches "from sea to sea" (a mari usque ad mare).
Parts of Eastern Canada had been visited before. The Norse, Basque, Galician, and Breton fishermen had been there. Perhaps the Corte-Real brothers and John Cabot also visited. Of course, Native Americans lived there first. Cartier's special contribution was being the first European to go deep into the continent. He explored the eastern region along the St. Lawrence River. His explorations helped France claim the land that would later become New France. His third voyage was the first documented European attempt to settle in North America since Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón in 1526–27.
Images for kids
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This Spanish map of the Saint Lawrence River, from around 1541, mentions that "Here many French died of hunger." This might refer to Cartier's second settlement in 1535–1536.
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The Dauphin Map of Canada, around 1543, shows Cartier's discoveries.
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A plaque on the statue of Jacques Cartier in Quebec City.
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Jacques Cartier on a 1934 Canadian postage stamp.
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Jacques Cartier Monument in Saint-Malo.
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The Jacques Cartier Cross on Saint-Quentin Island.
See also
In Spanish: Jacques Cartier para niños
