Jacques Cartier

Jacques Cartier married Mary Catherine des Granches in 1520. His wife hailed from a prominent family.

He died on September 1, 1557 during an epidemic. He was 65 years old.

Jacques Cartier was born on December 31, 1491 in Saint-Malo, the port on the north-west coast of Brittany. Details regarding his early life are obscure.

It is not known how he learned the art of navigation though it is generally accepted that he accompanied Giovanni da Verrazzano on unofficial explorations initiated by the king of France in 1524.

Cartier was introduced to King Francis I by Jean le Veneur, bishop of Saint-Malo and abbot of Mont-Saint-Michel, in 1534. He was reasonably experienced in navigation by then and the king asked him to undertake the official exploration of North America.

The king commissioned him to "discover certain islands and lands where it is said that a great quantity of gold and other precious things are to be found", and Cartier set sail on April 20, 1534.

During this voyage he explored parts of Newfoundland and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. He also encountered aboriginal people on the north side of Chaleur Bay and conducted some trade with them. He also captured two natives belong to the Saint Lawrence Iroquoian tribe and brought them to France in September 1534.

Cartier reported to the king all that he had discovered. The king was impressed with his findings and sent him on another expedition the following year. He set sail on his second voyage with three ships, 110 men, and his two Iroquoian captives to serve as guides.

The expedition navigated Saint Lawrence, travelled to as far as Quebec and established a base. Then Cartier sailed downriver to reach modern-day Montreal where he was welcomed by the Iroquois. From the natives he learned of some other rivers that led farther west, where gold, silver, copper and spices could be found.

Jacques Cartier explored the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the shores of the Saint Lawrence River, and named the region "The Country of Canadas". His extensive explorations of the area laid the basis for France’s later claims to the lands even though Cartier himself did not play any role in the colonization of Canada.