Lawrence River would later enable France to lay claim to the lands that would become modern-day Canada. He gained a reputation as a skilled navigator prior to making his three famous voyages to North America.
He was believed to have traveled to Brazil and Newfoundlandβpossibly accompanying explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano βbefore The purpose of the voyage was to find a northwest passage to Asia, as well as to collect riches such as gold and spices along the way. Did you know? In addition to his exploration of the St. Lawrence region, Jacques Cartier is credited with giving Canada its name. He reportedly misused the Iroquois word kanata meaning village or settlement to refer to the entire region around what is now Quebec City; it was later extended to the entire country.
Cartier set sail in April with two ships and 61 men, and arrived 20 days later. During that first expedition, he explored the western coast of Newfoundland and the Gulf of St. He is also credited with the discovery of what is now known as Prince Edward Island.
The king sent Cartier back across the Atlantic the following year with three ships and men. With the two captives acting as guides, the explorers headed up the St. Lawrence River as far as Quebec, where they established a base camp. In the spring, the explorers seized several Iroquois chiefs and traveled back to France. War in Europe stalled plans for another expedition, which finally went forward in Cartier sailed a few months ahead of Roberval, and arrived in Quebec in August After enduring another harsh winter, Cartier decided not to wait for the colonists to arrive, but sailed for France with a quantity of what he thought were gold and diamonds, which had been found near the Quebec camp.
Along the way, Cartier stopped in Newfoundland and encountered Roberval, who ordered Cartier to return with him to Quebec.
