jacques cartier first journey

• History Classics
• Your Profile
• Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window)
• This Day In History
• History Podcasts
• History Vault

Jacques Cartier

By: History.com Editors

Updated: June 6, 2023 | Original: November 9, 2009

In 1534, France’s King Francis I authorized the navigator Jacques Cartier to lead a voyage to the New World in order to seek gold and other riches, as well as a new route to Asia. Cartier’s three expeditions along the St. 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.

Jacques Cartier’s First North American Voyage

Born December 31, 1491, in Saint-Malo, France, Cartier began sailing as a young man. He was believed to have traveled to Brazil and Newfoundland—possibly accompanying explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano —before 1534.

That year, the government of King Francis I of France commissioned Cartier to lead an expedition to the “northern lands,” as the east coast of North America was then known. 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 1534 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. Lawrence as far as today’s Anticosti Island, which Cartier called Assomption. He is also credited with the discovery of what is now known as Prince Edward Island.

Cartier’s Second Voyage

Cartier returned to make his report of the expedition to King Francis, bringing with him two captured Native Americans from the Gaspé Peninsula. The king sent Cartier back across the Atlantic the following year with three ships and 110 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.

The following winter wrought havoc on the expedition, with 25 of Cartier’s men dying of scurvy and the entire group incurring the anger of the initially friendly Iroquois population. In the spring, the explorers seized several Iroquois chiefs and traveled back to France.

Though he had not been able to explore it himself, Cartier told the king of the Iroquois’ accounts of another great river stretching west, leading to untapped riches and possibly to Asia.

Cartier’s Third and Final Voyage

War in Europe stalled plans for another expedition, which finally went forward in 1541. This time, King Francis charged the nobleman Jean-François de La Rocque de Roberval with founding a permanent colony in the northern lands. Cartier sailed a few months ahead of Roberval, and arrived in Quebec in August 1541.

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. Rather than obey this command, Cartier sailed away under cover of night. When he arrived back in France, however, the minerals he brought were found to have no value.

Cartier received no more royal commissions, and would remain at his estate in Saint-Malo, Brittany, for the rest of his life. He died there on September 1, 1557. Meanwhile, Roberval’s colonists abandoned the idea of a permanent settlement after barely a year, and it would be more than 50 years before France again showed interest in its North American claims.

Jacques Cartier. The Mariner’s Museum and Park . The Explorers: Jacques Cartier 1534-1542. Canadian Museum of History .

Sign up for Inside History

Get HISTORY’s most fascinating stories delivered to your inbox three times a week.

By submitting your information, you agree to receive emails from HISTORY and A+E Networks. You can opt out at any time. You must be 16 years or older and a resident of the United States.

More details : Privacy Notice | Terms of Use | Contact Us

Jacques Cartier

French explorer Jacques Cartier is known chiefly for exploring the St. Lawrence River and giving Canada its name.

(1491-1557)

Who Was Jacques Cartier?

French navigator Jacques Cartier was sent by King Francis I to the New World in search of riches and a new route to Asia in 1534. His exploration of the St. Lawrence River allowed France to lay claim to lands that would become Canada. He died in Saint-Malo in 1557.

Early Life and First Major Voyage to North America

Born in Saint-Malo, France on December 31, 1491, Cartier reportedly explored the Americas, particularly Brazil, before making three major North American voyages. In 1534, King Francis I of France sent Cartier — likely because of his previous expeditions — on a new trip to the eastern coast of North America, then called the "northern lands." On a voyage that would add him to the list of famous explorers, Cartier was to search for gold and other riches, spices, and a passage to Asia.

Cartier sailed on April 20, 1534, with two ships and 61 men, and arrived 20 days later. He explored the west coast of Newfoundland, discovered Prince Edward Island and sailed through the Gulf of St. Lawrence, past Anticosti Island.

Second Voyage

Upon returning to France, King Francis was impressed with Cartier’s report of what he had seen, so he sent the explorer back the following year, in May, with three ships and 110 men. Two Indigenous peoples Cartier had captured previously now served as guides, and he and his men navigated the St. Lawrence, as far as Quebec, and established a base.

In September, Cartier sailed to what would become Montreal and was welcomed by the Iroquois who controlled the area, hearing from them that there were other rivers that led farther west, where gold, silver, copper and spices could be found. Before they could continue, though, the harsh winter blew in, rapids made the river impassable, and Cartier and his men managed to anger the Iroquois.

So Cartier waited until spring when the river was free of ice and captured some of the Iroquois chiefs before again returning to France. Because of his hasty escape, Cartier was only able to report to the king that untold riches lay farther west and that a great river, said to be about 2,000 miles long, possibly led to Asia.

Third Voyage

In May 1541, Cartier departed on his third voyage with five ships. He had by now abandoned the idea of finding a passage to the Orient and was sent to establish a permanent settlement along the St. Lawrence River on behalf of France. A group of colonists was a few months behind him this time.

Cartier set up camp again near Quebec, and they found an abundance of what they thought were gold and diamonds. In the spring, not waiting for the colonists to arrive, Cartier abandoned the base and sailed for France. En route, he stopped at Newfoundland, where he encountered the colonists, whose leader ordered Cartier back to Quebec. Cartier, however, had other plans; instead of heading to Quebec, he sneaked away during the night and returned to France.

There, his "gold" and "diamonds" were found to be worthless, and the colonists abandoned plans to found a settlement, returning to France after experiencing their first bitter winter. After these setbacks, France didn’t show any interest in these new lands for half a century, and Cartier’s career as a state-funded explorer came to an end. While credited with the exploration of the St. Lawrence region, Cartier's reputation has been tarnished by his dealings with the Iroquois and abandonment of the incoming colonists as he fled the New World.

Cartier died on September 1, 1557, in Saint-Malo, France.

QUICK FACTS

• Name: Jacques Cartier
• Birth Year: 1491
• Birth date: December 31, 1491
• Birth City: Saint-Malo, Brittany
• Birth Country: France
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: French explorer Jacques Cartier is known chiefly for exploring the St. Lawrence River and giving Canada its name.
• Astrological Sign: Capricorn
• Nacionalities
• Death Year: 1557
• Death date: September 1, 1557
• Death City: Saint-Malo, Brittany
• Death Country: France
• If the soil were as good as the harbors, it would be a blessing.
• [T]he land should not be called the New Land, being composed of stones and horrible rugged rocks; for along the whole of the north shore I did not see one cartload of earth and yet I landed in many places.
• Out of 110 that we were, not 10 were well enough to help the others, a thing pitiful to see.
• Today was our first day at sea. The weather was good, no clouds at the horizon and we are praying for a smooth sail.
• We set sail again trying to discover more wonders of this new world.
• Today I did something great for my country. We have taken over the land. Long live the King of France!
• I'm anxious to see what lies ahead. Every day we are getting deeper and deeper inside the continent, which increases my curiosity.
• Today I have completed my second voyage, which I can say had thought me a lot about how different things are in this world and how people start building up communities according to their common beliefs.
• The world is big and still hiding a lot.
• There arose such stormy and raging winds against us that we were constrained to come to the place again from whence we were come.
• I am inclined to believe that this is the land God gave to Cain.

European Explorers

Christopher Columbus

10 Famous Explorers Who Connected the World

Sir Walter Raleigh

Ferdinand Magellan

Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo

Leif Eriksson

Vasco da Gama

Bartolomeu Dias

Giovanni da Verrazzano

Jacques Marquette

René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle

The Ages of Exploration

Jacques cartier, age of discovery.

Quick Facts:

French navigator and explorer credited with naming Canada, exploring the St. Lawrence River, and Canadian areas that would become French territory

Name : Jacques Cartier [zhahk][kahr-tee-ey; (French) kar-tyey]

Birth/Death : December 31, 1491 - September 1, 1557

Nationality : French

Birthplace : France

Portrait of Jacques Cartier

Portrait of Jacques Cartier, French explorer who named Canada. The Mariners' Museum E133.C3 A4.

Introduction Jacques Cartier is best remembered for his exploration of parts of Canada. We even credit him with giving the country its name. Although Cartier named the land he traveled to “Canada,” the word actually comes from the Iroquois-Huron language. These natives referred to their village of Stacona as a kanata – which simply means “village” or “settlement”. 1 Cartier used this word to refer to all of the areas he explored, and soon would be used globally as more of the French came to explore the land.

Biography Early Life Jacques Cartier was born on December 31, 1491 in Saint-Malo, a port town of Brittany, France. His father was Jamet Cartier, and his mother was Geseline Jansart. 2 Almost nothing is known of his early life before his famous explorations. Saint-Malo was a fishing town in northern France. 3 So young Jacques probably learned navigational skills and seafaring early in life. Many scholars believe that Cartier took several trips across the Atlantic Ocean in his early years. Many agree that Cartier sailed on a voyage to Brazil as a young man. 4 However, there is no specific evidence to support this. In May 1519, Cartier married Catherine des Granches. Catherine came from a higher class than Cartier. 5 So when they married, Cartier’s social standing and position in society increased.

Cartier quickly became an experienced navigator and sailor. Many historians believe that Cartier joined Giovanni da Verrazzano on his voyages to the New World in 1524 and 1528. At this time, the Spanish and Portuguese were finding land, resources, and wealth in the New World. Other countries, like England and France, wanted to find new discoveries and wealth in the New World as well. So they sent out explorers to claim land for them. King Francis I of France wanted an expedition to go explore the New World for land and riches. He also wanted to find a Northwest Passage to Asia. Jacques Cartier was chosen to lead this venture.

Voyages Principal Voyage The voyage began on April 20, 1534 when Cartier departed from Saint-Malo with 2 ships and 61 men. After just 20 days of sailing, the expedition reached the area that is now modern day Newfoundland by early May. The fleet sailed north along the coastline for a short while, before turning around and heading south. Cartier continued to explore the western coastline of Newfoundland. After passing through the Strait of Belle Isle. Cartier and his fleet explored the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In June of 1534 he made his first major discovery when he came upon an area we know today as Prince Edward Island. 6 This is a large island that is still part of modern day Canada. After landing on Prince Edward Island, Cartier’s expedition explored the gulf and various inlets nearby in search of a passage to Asia. Failing to find the passage, they sailed onward. They explored Chaleur Bay, then headed northward. The final spot Cartier landed before returning to France was on the modern day Gaspé Peninsula. Here, they met the friendly Mimac (also spelled Mi’kmaq) natives who lived in the area, and traded furs and other items. 7 The expedition sailed around Anticosti Island before continuing out of the St. Lawrence Gulf. This made Jacques Cartier the first person to sail completely around the gulf. 8 They set sail to return home, and reached Saint-Malo, France on September 5, 1534.

After Cartier returned to France and met with King Francis, a second voyage to North America was funded. Both Cartier and the king were excited by Cartier’s findings during his first voyage and felt that his discoveries were promising. The king gave Cartier more ships and men for the voyage. They were tasked with exploring more of the mainland of the newly discovered places. Cartier and his men left France on May 19, 1535. Cartier had three ships – La Grande Hermine , La Petite Hermine , and L’Emerillon . 9 The expedition eventually reached Funk Island off of Newfoundland’s coast. On September 7, 1535, Cartier and his men reached the site of the present day city of Quebec. They stopped at a village called Stadacona, where they were greeted by the Donnaconna, chief of the Huron natives. 10 Several Huron natives went with Cartier as guides. They sailed up the St. Lawrence River, and on October 2, 1535, reached Hochelaga (now Montréal). The natives told Cartier of a place with riches called Saguenay, but it could not be reached by Cartier’s large ships. So he and his men returned to the mouth of the St. Charles River, to a fort they had previously built named Saint Croix. By November, the waterways were frozen. So Cartier and his men spent this winter here until April 1536. During winter, many of the men got sick with scurvy and died. Before returning to France, Cartier kidnapped Donnaconna and his two sons so he could tell King Francis I of the riches of Saguenay in person. May 6, 1536 Cartier set sail for France.

Subsequent Voyages Cartier was given permission to take a third voyage to find the land of Saguenay. But it would be five years before the expedition left. This time, a man named Rocque de Roberval would be in charge. Roberval’s team was to meet Cartier’s expedition in North America the following year after a settlement was begun. May 23, 1541, Cartier, with his men and five ships, left Saint Malo, France. The goal of the expedition was to establish a settlement in North America. They arrived in Stadacona on August 23, 1541, and established a settlement named “Charlesbourg-Royal” (near modern day Quebec City). They began exploring the area. Soon, Cartier and his men believed found stones that looked like diamonds and gold. However, it turned out that the diamonds were actually pieces of quartz, and the gold was iron pyrite – better known as “fool’s gold.” 11 Cartier and some of his men went back to Hochelaga. Some Huron natives then went with Cartier’s team to find Saguenay. But they never found it, so Cartier and his men returned to Charlesbourg-Royal where they spent winter. By spring, the native’s and the French relations turned hostile. The French abandoned the settlement, and left in June 1542.

Later Years and Death After leaving Charlesbourg-Royal, Cartier’s fleet met Roberval in St. John’s harbour in Newfoundland. He had with him barrels of the “diamonds” and “gold” which he would later find to be worthless. Roberval ordered Cartier and the settlers to turn around and go back to the settlement. But they refused. Cartier and the colonists slipped away one night, and headed back to Saint Malo. They reached home in October 1542. Cartier’s exploration career came to an end after his third voyage to North America. He remained in France during the last years of his life managing his estate. He died September 1, 1557 at the age of 66.

Legacy Jacques Cartier is credited with discovering and claiming the land now known as Canada for France. However, his treatment of the natives of the area was not always great. Throughout his three voyages, Cartier became the first European to explore the St. Lawrence Gulf and St. Lawrence River. Although his attempt to establish a French colony near modern day Quebec City was a failure, his discoveries led to further European exploration through the 16th and 17th centuries. The French would go on to colonize the area, and establish a rich fur trade. Several places in Canada honor him, including the Jacques Cartier Bridge that crosses the St. Lawrence River from Montreal to Quebec. And a statue of the explorer stands at the explorer’s birthplace of Saint Malo, France. 12

• Meg Greene, Jacques Cartier: Navigating the St. Lawrence River (New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 2004), 54.
• James Phinney Baxter, Jean François de La Roque Roberval, and Jean Alfonce, A Memoir of Jacques Cartier, Sieur de Limoilou: His Voyages to the St. Lawrence, a Bibliography and a Facsimile of the Manuscript of 1534 with Annotations, Etc. (New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1906), 11.
• Jeff Donaldson-Forbes, Jacques Cartier (New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 2006), 5.
• Donaldson-Forbes, Jacques Cartier , 6.
• Baxter, et. al, A Memoir of Jacques Cartier , 12-13.
• James Stuart Olson, Historical Dictionary of European Imperialism (New York: Greenwood Press, 1991), 118.
• Kristin Petrie, Jacques Cartier (Edina: ABDO Publishing Company, 2004), 9.
• Alan Day, Historical Dictionary of the Discovery and Exploration of the Northwest Passage (Lanham: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2006), 46.
• Day, Historical Dictionary , 46.
• Richard E. Bohlander, ed., World Explorers and Discoverers (New York: MacMillan Publishing Company, 1992), 101.
• Bohlander, World Explorers and Discoverers , 103.
• Jennifer Lackey, Jacques Cartier: Exploring the St. Lawrence River (New York: Crabtree Publishing Company, 2006), 30.

Bibliography

Baxter, James Phinney, Jean François de La Roque Roberval, and Jean Alfonce. A Memoir of Jacques Cartier, Sieur de Limoilou: His Voyages to the St. Lawrence, a Bibliography and a Facsimile of the Manuscript of 1534 with Annotations, Etc.  New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1906.

Bohlander, Richard E., ed. World Explorers and Discoverers . New York: MacMillan Publishing Company, 1992.

Day, Alan. Historical Dictionary of the Discovery and Exploration of the Northwest Passage . Lanham: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2006.

Donaldson-Forbes, Jeff. Jacques Cartier. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. , 2006.

Greene, Meg. Jacques Cartier: Navigating the St. Lawrence River . New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 2004.

Lackey, Jennifer. Jacques Cartier: Exploring the St. Lawrence River . New York: Crabtree Publishing Company, 2006.

Olson, James Stuart. Historical Dictionary of European Imperialism . New York: Greenwood Press, 1991.

Petrie, Kristin. Jacques Cartier . Edina: ABDO Publishing Company, 2004.

• Original "EXPLORATION through the AGES" site
• The Mariners' Educational Programs

Biography of Jacques Cartier, Early Explorer of Canada

Rischgitz / Stringer/ Hulton Archive / Getty Images

• Canadian Government
• The U. S. Government
• U.S. Foreign Policy
• U.S. Liberal Politics
• U.S. Conservative Politics
• Women's Issues
• Civil Liberties
• The Middle East
• Race Relations
• Immigration
• Crime & Punishment
• Understanding Types of Government
• B.A., Political Science, Carleton University

Jacques Cartier (December 31, 1491–September 1, 1557) was a French navigator sent by French King Francis I to the New World to find gold and diamonds and a new route to Asia. Cartier explored what became known as Newfoundland, the Magdalen Islands, Prince Edward Island, and the Gaspé Peninsula, and was the first explorer to map the St. Lawrence River. He claimed what is now Canada for France.

Fast Facts: Jacques Cartier

• Known For : French explorer who gave Canada its name
• Born : Dec. 31, 1491 in Saint-Malo, Brittany, France
• Died : Sept. 1, 1557 in Saint-Malo
• Spouse : Marie-Catherine des Granches

Jacques Cartier was born on Dec. 31, 1491, in Saint-Malo, a historic French port on the coast of the English Channel. Cartier began to sail as a young man and earned a reputation as a highly-skilled navigator, a talent that would come in handy during his voyages across the Atlantic Ocean.

He apparently made at least one voyage to the New World, exploring Brazil , before he led his three major North American voyages. These voyages—all to the St. Lawrence region of what is now Canada—came in 1534, 1535–1536, and 1541–1542.

First Voyage

In 1534 King Francis I of France decided to send an expedition to explore the so-called "northern lands" of the New World. Francis was hoping the expedition would find precious metals, jewels, spices, and a passage to Asia. Cartier was selected for the commission.

With two ships and 61 crewmen, Cartier arrived off the barren shores of Newfoundland just 20 days after setting sail. He wrote, "I am rather inclined to believe that this is the land God gave to Cain."

The expedition entered what is today known as the Gulf of St. Lawrence by the Strait of Belle Isle, went south along the Magdalen Islands, and reached what are now the provinces of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. Going north to the Gaspé peninsula, he met several hundred Iroquois from their village of Stadacona (now Quebec City), who were there to fish and hunt for seals. He planted a cross on the peninsula to claim the area for France, although he told Chief Donnacona it was just a landmark.

The expedition captured two of Chief Donnacona's sons, Domagaya and Taignoagny, to take along as prisoners. They went through the strait separating Anticosti Island from the north shore but did not discover the St. Lawrence River before returning to France.

Second Voyage

Cartier set out on a larger expedition the next year, with 110 men and three ships adapted for river navigation. Donnacona's sons had told Cartier about the St. Lawrence River and the “Kingdom of the Saguenay” in an effort, no doubt, to get a trip home, and those became the objectives of the second voyage. The two former captives served as guides for this expedition.

After a long sea crossing, the ships entered the Gulf of St. Lawrence and then went up the "Canada River," later named the St. Lawrence River. Guided to Stadacona, the expedition decided to spend the winter there. But before winter set in, they traveled up the river to Hochelaga, the site of present-day Montreal. (The name "Montreal" comes from Mount Royal, a nearby mountain Cartier named for the King of France.)

Returning to Stadacona, they faced deteriorating relations with the natives and a severe winter. Nearly a quarter of the crew died of scurvy, although Domagaya saved many men with a remedy made from evergreen bark and twigs. Tensions grew by spring, however, and the French feared being attacked. They seized 12 hostages, including Donnacona, Domagaya, and Taignoagny, and fled for home.

Third Voyage

Because of his hasty escape, Cartier could only report to the king that untold riches lay farther west and that a great river, said to be 2,000 miles long, possibly led to Asia. These and other reports, including some from the hostages, were so encouraging that King Francis decided on a huge colonizing expedition. He put military officer Jean-François de la Rocque, Sieur de Roberval, in charge of the colonization plans, although the actual exploration was left to Cartier.

War in Europe and the massive logistics for the colonization effort, including the difficulties of recruiting, slowed Roberval. Cartier, with 1,500 men, arrived in Canada a year ahead of him. His party settled at the bottom of the cliffs of Cap-Rouge, where they built forts. Cartier started a second trip to Hochelaga, but he turned back when he found that the route past the Lachine Rapids was too difficult.

On his return, he found the colony under siege from the Stadacona natives. After a difficult winter, Cartier gathered drums filled with what he thought were gold, diamonds, and metal and started to sail for home. But his ships met Roberval's fleet with the colonists, who had just arrived in what is now St. John's, Newfoundland .

Roberval ordered Cartier and his men to return to Cap-Rouge, but Cartier ignored the order and sailed for France with his cargo. When he arrived in France, he found that the load was really iron pyrite—also known as fool's gold—and quartz. Roberval's settlement efforts also failed. He and the colonists returned to France after experiencing one bitter winter.

Death and Legacy

While he was credited with exploring the St. Lawrence region, Cartier's reputation was tarnished by his harsh dealings with the Iroquois and by his abandoning the incoming colonists as he fled the New World. He returned to Saint-Malo but got no new commissions from the king. He died there on Sept. 1, 1557.

Despite his failures, Jacques Cartier is credited as the first European explorer to chart the St. Lawrence River and to explore the Gulf of St. Lawrence. He also discovered Prince Edward Island and built a fort at Stadacona, where Quebec City stands today. And, in addition to providing the name for a mountain that gave birth to "Montreal," he gave Canada its name when he misunderstood or misused the Iroquois word for village, "kanata," as the name of a much broader area.

• " Jacques Cartier Biography ." Biography.com.
• " Jacques Cartier ." History.com.
• " Jacques Cartier: French Explorer ." Encyclopedia Brittanica.
• A Timeline of North American Exploration: 1492–1585
• Amerigo Vespucci, Explorer and Navigator
• Captain James Cook
• The Florida Expeditions of Ponce de Leon
• Biography of Ferdinand Magellan, Explorer Circumnavigated the Earth
• Amerigo Vespucci, Italian Explorer and Cartographer
• The Story of How Canada Got Its Name
• Explorers and Discoverers
• Biography and Legacy of Ferdinand Magellan
• Biography of Christopher Columbus
• Queen Elizabeth's Royal Visits to Canada
• Profile of Prince Henry the Navigator
• French and Indian War: Battle of Quebec (1759)
• Biography of Christopher Columbus, Italian Explorer
• Biography of Juan Ponce de León, Conquistador
• Biography of Juan Sebastián Elcano, Magellan's Replacement

Search The Canadian Encyclopedia

Enter your search term

Why sign up?

Signing up enhances your TCE experience with the ability to save items to your personal reading list, and access the interactive map.

• MLA 8TH EDITION
• Allaire, Bernard. "Jacques Cartier". The Canadian Encyclopedia , 09 July 2020, Historica Canada . www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jacques-cartier. Accessed 12 April 2024.
• The Canadian Encyclopedia , 09 July 2020, Historica Canada . www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jacques-cartier. Accessed 12 April 2024." href="#" class="js-copy-clipboard b b-md b-invert b-modal-copy">Copy
• APA 6TH EDITION
• Allaire, B. (2020). Jacques Cartier. In The Canadian Encyclopedia . Retrieved from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jacques-cartier
• The Canadian Encyclopedia . Retrieved from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jacques-cartier" href="#" class="js-copy-clipboard b b-md b-invert b-modal-copy">Copy
• CHICAGO 17TH EDITION
• Allaire, Bernard. "Jacques Cartier." The Canadian Encyclopedia . Historica Canada. Article published August 29, 2013; Last Edited July 09, 2020.
• The Canadian Encyclopedia . Historica Canada. Article published August 29, 2013; Last Edited July 09, 2020." href="#" class="js-copy-clipboard b b-md b-invert b-modal-copy">Copy
• TURABIAN 8TH EDITION
• The Canadian Encyclopedia , s.v. "Jacques Cartier," by Bernard Allaire, Accessed April 12, 2024, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jacques-cartier
• The Canadian Encyclopedia , s.v. "Jacques Cartier," by Bernard Allaire, Accessed April 12, 2024, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jacques-cartier" href="#" class="js-copy-clipboard b b-md b-invert b-modal-copy">Copy

Thank you for your submission

Our team will be reviewing your submission and get back to you with any further questions.

Thanks for contributing to The Canadian Encyclopedia.

Jacques Cartier

Article by Bernard Allaire

Published Online August 29, 2013

Last Edited July 9, 2020

Jacques Cartier, navigator (born between 7 June and 23 December 1491 in Saint-Malo, France; died 1 September 1557 in Saint-Malo, France). From 1534 to 1542, Cartier led three maritime expeditions to the interior of the  Gulf of the St. Lawrence River . During these expeditions, he explored, but more importantly accurately mapped for the first time the interior of the river, from the Gulf to  Montreal  ( see also  History of Cartography in Canada ). For this navigational prowess, Cartier is still considered by many as the founder of “Canada.” At the time, however, this term described only the region immediately surrounding  Quebec . Cartier’s upstream navigation of the  St. Lawrence River  in the 16th century ultimately led to France occupying this part of North America.

Voyages to the Americas

Jacques Cartier’s early life is very poorly documented. He was likely employed in business and navigation from a young age. Like his countrymen, Cartier probably sailed along the coast of France, Newfoundland and South America (Brazil), first as a sailor and then as an officer. Following the annexation of Brittany to the kingdom of France, King François 1 chose Cartier to replace the explorer Giovanni da Verrazano . Verrazano had died on his last voyage.

First Voyage (1534)

Jacques Cartier’s orders for his first expedition were to search for a passage to the Pacific Ocean in the area around Newfoundland and possibly find precious metals. He left Saint-Malo on 20 April 1534 with two ships and 61 men. They reached the coast of Newfoundland 20 days later. During his journey, Cartier passed several sites known to European fishers. He renamed these places or noted them on his maps. After skirting the north shore of  Newfoundland , Cartier and his ships entered the Gulf of St. Lawrence by the Strait of Belle Isle and travelled south, hugging the coast of the Magdalen Islands on 26 June. Three days later, they reached what are now the provinces of  Prince Edward Island  and  New Brunswick . He then navigated towards the west, crossing Chaleur Bay and reaching Gaspé , where he encountered Iroquoian lndigenous people from the region of Quebec . They had come to the area for their annual seal hunt. After planting a cross and engaging in some trading and negotiations, Cartier’s ships left on 25 July. Before leaving, Cartier abducted two of Iroquoian chief  Donnacona’s sons. They returned to France by following the coast of Anticosti Island and re-crossing the Strait of Belle Isle.

Second Voyage (1535-6)

The expedition of 1535 was more important than the first expedition. It included 110 people and three medium-sized ships. The ships were called the  Grande Hermine  (the Great Stoat), the  Petite Hermine  (the Lesser Stoat) and the  Émérillon  (the Merlin). The Émérillon  had been adapted for river navigation. They left Brittany in mid-May 1535 and reached Newfoundland after a long, 50-day crossing. Following the itinerary from the previous year, they entered the Gulf , then travelled the “Canada River” (later named the  St. Lawrence River ) upstream. One of chief Donnacona’s sons guided them to the village of  Stadacona  on the site of what is now the city of  Quebec . Given the extent of their planned explorations, the French decided to spend the winter there and settled at the mouth of the St. Charles River. Against the advice of chief Donnacona, Jacques Cartier decided to continue sailing up the river towards Hochelaga , now the city of Montreal . Cartier reached Hochelaga on 2 October 1535. There he met other Iroquoian people, who tantalized Cartier with the prospect of a sea in the middle of the country. By the time Cartier returned to Stadacona (Quebec), relations with the Indigenous people there had deteriorated. Nevertheless, they helped the poorly organized French to survive scurvy thanks to a remedy made from evergreen trees ( see also  Indigenous Peoples’ Medicine in Canada ). When spring came, the French decided to return to Europe. This time, Cartier abducted chief Donnacona himself, the two sons, and seven other Iroquoian people. The French never returned Donnacona and his people to North America. ( See also  Enslavement of Indigenous People in Canada. )

Third Voyage (1541-2)

The war in Europe led to a delay in returning to Canada. In addition, the plans for the voyage were changed. This expedition was to include close to 800 people and involve a major attempt to colonize the region. The explorations were left to Jacques Cartier, but the logistics and colonial management of the expedition were entrusted to  Jean-François de La Rocque , sieur de Roberval. Roberval was a senior military officer who was responsible for recruitment, loading weapons onto the ships, and bringing on craftsmen and a number of prisoners. Just as the expedition was to begin, delays in the preparations and the vagaries of the war with Spain meant that only half the personnel (led by Cartier) were sent to Canada in May 1541 by Roberval. Roberval eventually came the following year. Cartier and his men settled the new colony several kilometres upstream from Quebec at the confluence of the Cap Rouge and St. Lawrence rivers. While the colonists and craftsmen built the forts, Cartier decided to sail toward  Hochelaga . When he returned, a bloody battle had broken out with the Iroquoian people at Stadacona .

Return to France

In a state of relative siege during the winter, and not expecting the arrival of Jean-François de La Rocque , sieur de Roberval until spring, Jacques Cartier decided to abandon the colony at the end of May. He had filled a dozen barrels with what he believed were precious stones and metal. At a stop in  St. John’s , Newfoundland, however, Cartier met Roberval’s fleet and was given the order to return to Cap Rouge. Refusing to obey, Cartier sailed toward France under the cover of darkness. The stones and metal that he brought back turned out to be worthless and Cartier was never reimbursed by the king for the money he had borrowed from the Breton merchants. After this misadventure, he returned to business. Cartier died about 15 years later at his estate at Limoilou near Saint-Malo. He kept his reputation as the first European to have explored and mapped this part of the Americas, which later became the French axis of power in North America.

• St Lawrence

Further Reading

Marcel Trudel, The Beginnings of New France, 1524-1663 (1973).

External Links

Watch the Heritage Minute about French explorer Jacques Cartier from Historica Canada. See also related online learning resources.

Exploring the Explorers: Jacques Cartier Teacher guide for multidisciplinary student investigations into the life of explorer Jacques Cartier and his role in Canadian history. From the Dictionary of Canadian Biography.

Recommended

Indigenous languages in canada, enslavement of indigenous people in canada, indigenous perspectives education guide.

• Skip to main content
• Skip to "About government"

Language selection

• Français

The first voyage (1534)

Cartier-brébeuf national historic site.

Jacques Cartier made three voyages to Canada. On April 20, 1534, accompanied by approximately 60 sailors who were to handle two ships of about 60 tonnes each, Cartier set sail from Saint-Malo. Crossing the Atlantic went smoothly; after 20 days, he entered the Strait of Belle Isle. After following the north shore of the gulf of St. Lawrence for a time, he turned back, then headed south following the west coast of Newfoundland. Then, sailing toward the continent, he deduced the existence of the Cabot Street, skirted the Magdalen Islands, rounded the northern tip of Prince Edward Island, and put in at Chaleur Bay. Believing he had discovered the passage to Asia, he travelled to the head of the bay, but then had to backtrack. A storm drove him into the bay of Gaspé, where he met more than 300 people from Stadacona (Québec), who had come there to fish. Two Amerindians who were relatives (sons) of the chief Donnacona were made to embark on Cartier's ship; they accompanied the explorer on the remainder of his exploration.

Following this, weather conditions prevented Cartier from making out the entrance to the St. Lawrence River between the Gaspé peninsula and Anticosti Island. After hunting along the north shore of this island, he finally found a passage, but was unable to travel further inland on account of strong winds and opposing tides. As winter was not far off, Cartier and his men decided to head the two ships back to France. A second voyage thus became a compelling necessity: the St. Lawrence River might be the northern passage so ardently hoped for.

Map of Cartier's first voyage (1534)

Related links

• The great explorations
• The second voyage (1535-1536)
• Wintering (1535-1536)
• The third voyage (1541-1542)

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

• Native Americans
• Age of Exploration
• Revolutionary War
• Mexican-American War
• War of 1812
• World War 1
• World War 2
• Family Trees
• Explorers and Pirates

Jacques Cartier Facts, Biography, Accomplishments, Voyages

Published: Jun 4, 2012 · Modified: Nov 11, 2023 by Russell Yost · This post may contain affiliate links ·

Jacques Cartier  (December 31, 1491 – September 1, 1557) was the first French Explorer to explore the New World. He explored what is now Canada and set the stage for the great explorer and navigator Samuel de Champlain to begin colonization of Canada.

Cartier was the first European to discover and create a map of the St. Lawrence River. The St. Lawrence River would play an important role in the New World during the French and Indian War, the American Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the colonization of America.

Early Life of Jacques Cartier

First voyage, 1534, second voyage, 1535–1536, third voyage, 1541–1542, later life and death.

• Cartier was born in 1491 in Saint-Malo. During his early childhood, he would hear stories of the great Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and the exploits of the Spanish Conquistadors .
• His homeland, France, was relatively inactive in the exploits of the New World. Instead, it was embroiled in the European wars with the Holy Roman Empire, England, and Spain. Cartier grew and began to study navigation and, over time, became an excellent mariner.
• In a feudal society, talents were often overlooked and superseded by political standing. Cartier did not get the attention he deserved until he married Mary Catherine, who was a daughter in a wealthy and politically influential family.

• In 1534, Jacques Cartier was brought to the court of King Francis I. King Francis I ruled France during the reign of Charles V in the Holy Roman Empire and Henry VIII of England.
• He was a talented Monarch and ambitious for great treasure. 10 years prior to Cartier, he had asked Giovanni da Verrazzano to explore the eastern coast of North America but had not formally commissioned him.
• Cartier set sail with a commission from King Francis I in 1534 with hopes of finding a pathway through the New World and into Asia.
• Jacques Cartier sailed across the ocean, landed around Newfoundland, and began exploring the area around the Gulf of the St. Lawrence River. While exploring, he came across two Indian tribes, the Mi'kmaq and the Iroquois. Initially, relations with the Iroquois were positive as he began to establish trade with them. However, Cartier then planted a large cross and claimed the land for the King of France.
• The Iroquois understood the implications and began to change their mood. In response, Cartier kidnapped two of the captain's sons. The Iroquois captain and Cartier agreed that the sons could be taken as long as they were returned with European goods to trade. Cartier then returned to his ships and began his voyage home. He believed that he had found the coast of Asia.
• After his return from his first voyage, Cartier received much praise from Francis I and was granted another voyage, which he left the next year. He left France on May 19 with three ships, 110 men, and the two natives he promised to return to the Iroquois captain.
• This time, when he arrived at the St. Lawrence River, he sailed up the river in what he believed to be a pathway into Asia. He did not reach Asia but instead came into contact with Chief Donnacona, who ruled from the Iroquois capital, Stadacona.
• Cartier continued up the St. Lawrence, believing that it was the Northwest passage to the east. He came across the Iroquois city of Hochelaga and was not able to go much further. The St. Lawrence waters became rapids and were too harsh for ships.
• His expedition left Cartier unable to return to France before the coming of winter. He stayed among the people of Hochelaga and then sailed back to Stadacona around mid-October. He most likely set up winter camp here. During his encampment, scurvy broke out among the Iroquois and soon infected the European explorers. The prognosis was dim until the Iroquois revealed a remedy for scurvy. Bark from a white spruce boiled in water would rid them of the disease.
• Cartier and his men used an entire white spruce to concoct the remedy. The remedy would work and would save the expedition from failure.
• Cartier left Canada for France in May of 1536. Chief Donnacona traveled to France with him to tell King Francis of the great treasures to be found. Jacques Cartier arrived in France on July 15, 1536. His second voyage had made him a wealthy and affluent man.
• Jacques Cartier's third voyage was a debacle. It began with King Francis commissioning Cartier to found a colony and then replacing Cartier with a friend of his, Huguenot explorer Roberval. Cartier was placed as Roberval's chief navigator.  Cartier and Roberval left France in 1541.
• Upon reaching the St. Lawrence, Roverval waited for supplies and sent Cartier ahead to begin construction on the settlement. Cartier anchored at Stadacona and once again met with the Iroquois. While they greeted him with much happiness, Cartier did not like how many of them there were and chose to sail down the river a bit more to find a better spot to construct the settlement. He found the spot and began construction and named it Charlesbourg-Royal.
• After fortifying the settlement, Cartier set out to search for Saguenay. His search was again halted by winter, and the rapids of the Ottawa River forced him to return to Charlesbourg-Royal. Upon his arrival, he found out that the Iroquois Indians were no longer friendly to the Europeans. They attacked the settlement and left 35 of the settlers dead. Jacques Cartier believed that he had insufficient manpower to defend the settlement and search for the Saguenay Kingdom. He also believed that he and his men had found diamonds and gold and had stashed them on two ships.
• Cartier set sail for France in June of 1542. Along the way, he located Roberval and his ships along the coast of Newfoundland. Roberval insisted that Cartier stay and continue with him to the settlement and to help find the Kingdom of Saguenay, and Carter pretended to oblige. Cartier waited, and when the perfect night came, he and his ships full of diamonds and gold left Roberval and returned to France. Roberval continued to Charlesbourg-Royal but abandoned it 2 years later after harsh winters, disease, and the hostile Iroquois Indians.
• Upon returning to France, Cartier would learn that the diamonds he believed to have found were nothing more than mineral deposits. This ended the career of Jacques Cartier.
• Jacques Cartier retired to Sain-Malo, where he served as an interpreter of the Portuguese language. A typhus epidemic broke out in 1557 and claimed the life of the great explorer. Cartier died 15 years after his last voyage to the New World.
• While Cartier's missions did not establish a permanent settlement in Canada, it laid the foundation for Samuel de Champlain.

Virtual museum of New France

• Virtual museum of new France
• Introduction
• Colonies and Empires

The Explorers

• Economic Activities
• Useful links

• North America Before New France
• From the Middle Ages to the Age of Discovery
• Founding Sites
• French Colonial Expansion and Franco-Amerindian Alliances
• Other New Frances
• Other Colonial Powers
• Wars and Imperial Rivalries
• Governance and Sites of Power

Jacques Cartier 1534-1542

• Samuel de Champlain 1604-1616
• Étienne Brûlé 1615-1621
• Jean Nicollet 1634
• Jean de Quen 1647
• Médard Chouart Des Groseilliers 1654-1660
• Pierre-Esprit Radisson 1659-1660
• Nicolas Perrot 1665-1689
• René-Robert Cavelier de La Salle 1670-1687
• Charles Albanel 1672
• Jacques Marquette 1673
• Louis Jolliet 1673-1694
• Louis Hennepin 1678-1680
• Daniel Greysolon Dulhut 1678-1679
• Louis-Armand de Lom d’Arce, baron Lahontan 1684-1689
• Pierre de Troyes 1686
• Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville 1686-1702
• Antoine Laumet dit de Lamothe Cadillac 1694-1701
• Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye 1732-1739
• Basque Whalers
• Industrial Development
• Commercial Networks
• Immigration
• Social Groups
• Religious Congregations
• Pays d’en Haut and Louisiana
• Entertainment
• Communications
• Health and Medicine
• Vernacular Architecture in New France

We do not know how Jacques Cartier learned the art of navigation, but Saint-Malo, the town where he was born between the summer and winter of 1491, was at the time one of the most important ports in Europe. In 1524 he probably accompanied Giovanni da Verrazzano on unofficial explorations initiated by the king of France. Some ten years later, Jacques Cartier was a sufficiently experienced navigator to be asked by Francis I to undertake the official exploration of North America. There is no doubt that he was already familiar with the sea route that he took in 1534.

To the New Lands

On March 19, 1534, Cartier was assigned the mission of “undertaking the voyage of this kingdom to the New Lands to discover certain islands and countries where there are said to be great quantities of gold and other riches”. The following April 20, the navigator from Saint-Malo cast off with two ships and a crew of 61. Twenty days later he reached Newfoundland. The exploration began in an area frequented by Breton fishermen: from the Baie des Châteaux (Strait of Belle Isle) to southern Newfoundland. After erecting a cross at Saint-Servan on the north coast of the Gulf, Cartier tacked to the south. He first encountered the Magdalen Islands, and then set course for present-day Prince Edward Island, failing to notice that it was in fact an island.

A Lie and A Claiming of Possession

Cartier then moved on to Chaleur Bay, where he encountered some Micmacs on July 7. The talks were accompanied by a swapping of items, which history has recorded as the first act of trade between the French and Amerindians. Soon after, Cartier reached Gaspé Bay.

More than 200 Iroquois from Stadacona (Québec) were on the peninsula to fish. Initially trusting and cordial, relations were tarnished when Jacques Cartier claimed possession of the territory on July 24. The 30-foot cross he erected at Pointe-Penouille seemed improper to Donnacona, the Native chief. Fearing the consequences of this discontent, Cartier lied, describing the cross as an insignificant landmark.

Jacques Cartier in Gaspé  On the 25th he left the Gaspé area, heading for the Gulf of St. Lawrence. After navigating the strait separating Anticosti Island from the north shore, he set off again for Saint-Malo, where he landed on September 5. The St. Lawrence River had not been discovered.

Revelations of the Amerindian Guides

Jacques Cartier arrived in France with two precious trophies: Domagaya and Taignoagny, the sons of Donnacona, whom he had convinced to come with him. They told him of the St. Lawrence River and the “Kingdom of the Saguenay”, the objectives of his second voyage upon which he set forth on May 19, 1535. Cartier had been persuasive: his crew had doubled and he had command of three ships: the Grande Hermine, Petite Hermine and Émérillon.

Fifty days after putting to sea, a first vessel laid anchor off the shores of Newfoundland. On July 26 the convoy was reunited, and exploration could begin again. On August 10, the day of St. Lawrence, the explorer gave the saint’s name to a little bay. Cartographers later applied it to the the “great river of Hochelaga and route to Canada” leading to the interior of the continent, “so long that no man has seen its end”.

From the Saguenay to Hochelaga

Sailing along the river to Stadacona (Québec), the ships passed Anticosti Island and the mouth of the Saguenay. Cartier established his headquarters on the Sainte-Croix (Saint-Charles) river, and five days later boarded the Émérillon to travel to Hochelaga (Montreal). Leaving the ship in Lake Saint-Pierre, he proceeded in a small craft to the Iroquois village, where he arrived on October 2.

There were nearly 2,000 people living there. The island and village were overlooked by a mountain, which he named mount Royal. He was taken there by his hosts, who spoke to him of the riches of the west, and again of the “Kingdom of the Saguenay”. The rapids north and south of Montreal Island prevented him from continuing his route to the west. Cartier had to return to harbour on the Saint-Charles river, where he found that relations with the Iroquois had become more acrimonious. The threat of an early winter lay before the Frenchmen.

Isolation, Cold and Scurvy

From mid-November, the ships were imprisoned in the ice. December began with an epidemic of scurvy. The Iroquois, the first affected, were slow in delivering up the secret of anedda, a white cedar tea which would save them. Of the 100 Frenchmen afflicted, 25 died.

On May 3, Cartier planted a cross on the site where he had just wintered. The same day, he seized about ten Iroquois, one of them Donnacona, the only one who was able to “relate to the King the marvels he had seen in the western lands”.

The voyage back began three days later, without the Petite Hermine. Following a swerve along the Newfoundland coast, Jacques Cartier discovered the strait which bears the name of the explorer Giovanni Caboto. On July 16, 1536, Cartier was again in Saint-Malo.

The Colonization of Canada

On October 17, 1540, Francis I ordered the Breton navigator to return to Canada to lend weight to a colonization project of which he would be “captain general”. But on January 15, 1541 Cartier was supplanted by Jean-François de La Roque de Roberval, a Huguenot courtier.

Authorized to leave by Roberval, who was awaiting the delivery of artillery and merchandise, Jacques Cartier departed from Saint-Malo on May 23, 1541. He led five vessels “well provisioned with victuals for two years”, including the Grande Hermine, Émérillon, Saint-Brieux and Georges. There were 1500 people travelling with him. The crossing took more than three months.

With the exception of one little girl, all the Iroquois died in France. Cartier admitted the death of Donnacona, but claimed that the others “had remained in France where they were living as great lords; they had married and had no desire to return to their country”.

Being no longer welcome in Stadacona, the colonists settled at the foot of Cap Rouge (Cap Diamant), named Charlesbourg Royal. The experience was a disaster. In June 1542 Cartier left the St. Lawrence valley with the survivors. At Newfoundland he met with Roberval’s group, which had only left La Rochelle in April. The night after their encounter, Cartier placed the entreprise in jeopardy by slipping away from his leader. He landed in Saint-Malo in September.

Jacques Cartier would never return to Canada. As for Roberval, he continued on to Charlesbourg Royal, which he renamed France-Roi. After putting up with the climate, scurvy, quarrelling and adversity, his colony was extinguished in 1543 with the repatriation of those who survived.

• Hide Sidebar
• First Paragraph
• Bibliography
• Find Out More
• How to cite
• Back to top

DCB/DBC News

New biographies, minor corrections, biography of the day.

b. 12 April 1766 at Lac-des-Deux-Montagnes (Oka), Que.

Confederation

Responsible government, sir john a. macdonald, from the red river settlement to manitoba (1812–70), sir wilfrid laurier, sir george-étienne cartier, the fenians, women in the dcb/dbc.

Winning the Right to Vote

The Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences of 1864

Introductory essays of the dcb/dbc, the acadians, for educators.

Exploring the Explorers

The War of 1812 

Canada’s wartime prime ministers, the first world war.

Source: Library and Archives Canada/MIKAN 2835981

CARTIER, JACQUES , navigator of Saint-Malo, first explorer of the Gulf of St. Lawrence in 1534, discoverer of the St. Lawrence River in 1535, commander of the settlement of Charlesbourg-Royal in 1541–42; b. probably some time between 7 June and 23 Dec. 1491 at Saint-Malo (Brittany), where he died in 1557.

Cartier had no doubt been going to sea since his youth, but nothing is known of his career before 1532. According to Lanctot, Cartier may have taken part in Verrazzano’s expeditions in 1524 and 1528. Cartier’s absences from France which coincide with the voyages of the celebrated Florentine, the objective assigned to Cartier in 1534, his point of arrival in Newfoundland which corresponds to the final point reached on the 1524 voyage, a Danish map of 1605, and a statement of the Jesuit Pierre Biard in his Relation for the year 1614 – from all these Lanctot concludes that Cartier sailed along the North American coast in 1524. He further states that Cartier, after Verrazzano’s death, took command of the ship to return to France.

Several objections militate against this theory: if Cartier was absent from Saint-Malo during Verrazzano’s voyages, he could easily have been elsewhere than on the Dauphine ; moreover the expedition set out from Normandy, and one can hardly imagine a Breton joining forces, at that time, with the shipowners of Dieppe. Why does Cartier, in the accounts of his travels, never allude to Verrazzano or to the coast visited in 1524? When he compares the natives or the produce of Canada with those of Brazil, why does he never mention those of the North American seaboard? If Cartier had an important post on board the Dauphine , why does his name not appear in the Verrazzanian toponymy which recalls so many of the people associated with the Florentine? Finally, why do the French maps which rely upon Cartier for the valley of the St. Lawrence reject the Verrazzanian toponymy and utilize systematically the Spanish one? Lanctot’s thesis is interesting, although it remains unproven and adds nothing certain to our knowledge of Cartier.

When in 1532 Jean Le Veneur, bishop of Saint-Malo and abbot of Mont-Saint-Michel, suggested to François I that an expedition be sent to the New World, he asserted that Cartier had already been to Brazil and to “Newfoundland.” In fact Cartier’s accounts do include several allusions to Brazil which are not merely recollections of things read; as for Newfoundland, Cartier knew the surrounding regions: a month before his departure he was aware that he was expected to reach the “Baie des Châteaux” (Strait of Belle-Isle), and he went directly there as if it were a familiar stopping-place.

The commission granted to Cartier in 1534 has not been located, but an order from the king, in March of the same year, enlightens us as to the objective of the voyage: “to discover certain islands and lands where it is said that a great quantity of gold, and other precious things, are to be found.” The 1534 account suggests a second objective: the route to Asia. To those who credit Cartier, on this first voyage, with a concern for missionary work, Lionel Groulx’s answer is: “Gold, the gateway to Cathay! If there is a mystique in all this, to use a word which is so debased today, it is a mystique of merchants, behind which looms a political rivalry.” The 1534 account mentions no priest engaged in evangelization among the natives; it would moreover have been useless, because of the linguistic barrier. Although the ship’s muster-roll has not been found, one may surmise that at least one priest was on board; when Bishop Le Veneur had proposed Cartier he had undertaken to supply the chaplains, and the account of the voyage alludes to the singing of mass.

Cartier set off from Saint-Malo on 20 April 1534, with 2 ships and 61 men. Favoured by “good weather,” he crossed the Atlantic in 20 days. He visited places already known and named, from the cape of “Bonne Viste” to the Baie des Châteaux; then he entered the bay which had been set as the first stage in his journey. Ten leagues away, in the interior, was the port of Brest, a depot for supplying the codfishermen with water and wood. One hundred miles to the west of Belle-Isle, Cartier encountered a ship from La Rochelle; he directed it back on to its course. Cartier was not yet in a totally unknown world, but he freely assigned names to the geographical features of the north coast: Île Sainte-Catherine; Toutes-Isles; Havre Saint-Antoine; Havre Saint-Servan, where he set up his first cross; Rivière Saint-Jacques; Havre Jacques-Cartier. For the land which he saw he had the utmost contempt: “along the whole of the north shore, I did not see one cart-load of earth,” it was “the land God gave to Cain.” On 15 June he steered “towards the south” and entered unexplored regions. He went along the west coast of Newfoundland, distributing French names, and reached what is today Cabot Strait, but he did not perceive that it was a navigable channel and turned westward.

He came across islands which appeared fertile to him by comparison with Newfoundland, among them Île Brion where he perhaps set up another cross, and on 26 June he reached the Îles de la Madeleine, which he assumed to be the beginning of the mainland. On the evening of 29 June he sighted another land, “the best-tempered region one can possibly see, and the heat is considerable”; he had discovered Prince Edward Island, without however being able to determine that it was an island.

Next, he explored bays that were disappointing, openings that held continual promise of being the passage to Asia, but which grew narrower as he advanced. To the southern tip of the “baye de Chaleurs” he gave the name of Cap d’Espérance, “for the hope we had of finding here a strait.” From 4 to 9 July he made a systematic investigation, only to conclude that no passage existed, “whereat we were grieved and displeased.” On 14 July he entered the Baie de Gaspé (which remained unnamed in 1534). He stayed there for a considerable time, until 25 July, which permitted him to establish some very important contacts with the Indians.

They were not the first natives whom he had encountered. On 12 or 13 June he had seen Indians in the “land of Cain”; they had come from inland to hunt the seal, and they have been identified by some as Beothuks, who are now extinct. At the beginning of July he had seen others on the Prince Edward Island coast, and on 7 July, in the Baie des Chaleurs, he had traded in furs with natives, probably Micmacs. Those whom he met at Gaspé were Laurentian Iroquois, who had come down in great numbers for their annual fishing. This nation was master of the St. Lawrence and was to assume historical importance. The Iroquois gleefully accepted small gifts, and an alliance was concluded, with dancing and jubilation. On 24 July Cartier erected a cross 30 ft. high, bearing the arms of France, at Penouille Point. If the crosses at Saint-Servan and on Île Brion were rather in the nature of landmarks or beacons, this one was much more: it is clear from the importance of the ceremony that the cross was intended to indicate that the territory was being taken possession of in the name of François I. Chief Donnacona protested; he approached Cartier’s boat with his brother and three of his sons to harangue the strangers. A pretence was made of offering him an axe. As he was about to take it, the French held on to his craft and forced the Iroquois to come on board the ship. Cartier reassured them and obtained permission to take away with him two of Donnacona’s sons, Domagaya and Taignoagny, promising to bring them back. There was feasting, followed by a most cordial leave-taking. Cartier left the Baie de Gaspé on 25 July with these two Indians, who would be able one day to act as interpreters.

He could have turned westward, but he turned eastward, thinking that the strait 40 miles wide between the Gaspé Peninsula and Anticosti was nothing more than “the coast [which] ran back forming a bay, in the shape of a semi-circle.” Cartier therefore missed discovering a river which would have taken him a long way into the interior of the continent. Until 29 July he sailed along the coast of Anticosti Island, and then around it; he took it for a peninsula. From 1 to 5 August he tried to find out whether he was in a bay or a waterway, and he finally realized that “the coast began to turn off towards the south-west.” Once again he had all but discovered the river, but bad weather intervened, and Cartier decided to withdraw. After meeting some Montagnais at Natashquan point, he set his course straight for Newfoundland, and on 15 August started on the trip home.

Cartier had been the first to go right round the gulf. Perhaps John Cabot , the Corte-Reals , and João Alvares Fagundes had seen it before him, but no document offers any proof. Cartier discovered the gulf, he drew a map of it, and he had caught a glimpse of the hinterland. True, his geographical knowledge was limited; he did not notice the passage between Newfoundland and Cape Breton, he thought the Îles de la Madeleine were the mainland, he did not discover the entry to the river. For Cartier, this sea possessed only one certain outlet, the Strait of Belle-Isle, and another possible one, to the north of Anticosti, which he did not have time to investigate.

The discovery of an inland sea, the exploration of a new country, an alliance with natives from the west, the immediate possibility of penetrating deeper, the assistance of two Indians who were learning to express themselves in French, all this made a second expedition worth while, even if Cartier had so far found neither gold nor metals. He was back in Saint-Malo on 5 Sept. 1534, and as early as 30 October he received a new commission to complete his discovery, François I paying 3,000 livres towards the undertaking.

In 1534 Cartier had had only 2 ships and 61 men; in 1535 he had 3 ships and a crew of some 110 men. On board the Grande Hermine , Cartier had the shipmaster Thomas Fromont as his assistant; he took with him Claude de Pontbriand (son of a Seigneur de Montréal, in Languedoc), Charles de La Pommeraye, Jehan Poullet, thought to be the author of the account of the second voyage, and a few gentlemen. Guillaume Le Marié sailed the Petite Hermine under the command of Macé Jalobert ; the captain of the Émérillon was Guillaume Le Breton Bastille and the navigator Jacques Maingart. The undertaking had brought together numerous relatives of Cartier and of his wife Catherine Des Granches: Étienne Noël, a nephew; Macé Jalobert, a brother-in-law; Antoine Des Granches, Jacques Maingart, and three other Maingarts; Michel Audiepvre; Michel Philipot; Guillaume and Antoine Aliecte; and Jacques Du Bog. Were there any chaplains? The ship’s muster-roll mentions dom Guillaume Le Breton, and dom Anthoine immediately following. The word “dom” was at that time applied only to secular priests, unless it is here the abbreviation for “Dominique.” Religious ceremonies were indeed performed on this voyage, but when Donnacona and his people asked for baptism (at a moment which it is difficult to specify), Cartier replied that he expected to bring priests with him on another voyage. Perhaps dom Le Breton and dom Anthoine were already dead? It is quite natural that chaplains should have accompanied such a large expedition, but no real proof of their presence can be found anywhere. Domagaya and Taignoagny were on the voyage also. During their eight and a half months’ stay in France they had learned French, but had not yet been baptized.

Cartier left Saint-Malo 19 May 1535 and reached the gulf once more after a long, 50-day crossing. He immediately resumed his quest, sailing along the north coast. To mark his route he set up a cross in a harbour to the west of Natashquan. He stopped in a bay which he called Saint-Laurent (now Sainte-Geneviève); the name was soon to be extended to the gulf, and then to the river. Finally, on 13 August, following the instructions of his two native guides, he passed the crucial point. There before him was the whole geography of the region: the Indians showed him “the way to the mouth of the great river of Hochelaga and the route towards Canada,” which narrowed continually as one went on; its waters, first salt then fresh, came from so great a distance that there was no record of any man ever having seen their source. Here at last, concluded Cartier, was the passage he was seeking.

He went up the river, examining the two shores as he advanced. He perceived on his right a “very deep and rapid” river which his guides told him was the route to the Saguenay, a kingdom where there was copper, and about which Donnacona was to tell wonderful tales. On 7 September Cartier reached the archipelago of Orléans, which was “where the province and territory of Canada begins,” the name Canada being applied then only to what is now Quebec. After feasting with Donnacona, Cartier decided to lay up his ships in the river Sainte-Croix (Saint-Charles), at the mouth of the stream called Lairet. Opposite rose the cape of Stadacona, where there was a village which was probably unfortified, after the Montagnais fashion, although it was inhabited by Iroquois.

Cartier was eager to get to Hochelaga, but the two native interpreters had already begun to scheme against the French. There was also some anxiety at Stadacona about this trip. Donnacona wanted to secure for himself the monopoly of the trade which would develop, since he hoped to escape from the domination exercised by Hochelaga over the Iroquois of the valley. He tried to detain Cartier by gifts, then by a display of witchcraft. Cartier, however, set out on 19 September on the Émérillon , but without interpreters, which greatly lessened the usefulness of his trip. He stopped at Achelacy (in the region of Portneuf), and formed an alliance with the local chieftain. He reached the lake which he called “Angoulême” (Saint-Pierre), left his ship at anchor, and went on in long-boats with some 30 men. On 2 October he arrived at Hochelaga, a town enclosed and fortified after the Iroquois style, near a mountain which he named Mont-Royal. He was given a joyous reception which even took on the air of a religious ceremony; to the Iroquois, who presented their sick to be cured, Cartier read the gospel according to St. John and the Passion of Christ. Without delaying further, he visited the rapids which blocked navigation to the west. The Indians explained to him by signs that other rapids obstructed the river and that a watercourse, by which one could reach the gold, silver, and copper of the Saguenay, flowed into the river from the north. But Cartier did not pursue his investigation; he left Hochelaga the next day, 3 October. On 7 October he stopped at the mouth of the “rivière de Fouez” (Saint-Maurice), and set up a cross there.

When Cartier returned to Stadacona, he found his men building a fort. The natives feigned joy on seeing him again, but their friendliness had vanished; new intrigues by the interpreters soon brought about a complete rupture. Relations were resumed only in November, in an atmosphere of mutual distrust.

Then came winter, the Laurentian winter which the Europeans were experiencing for the first time, and which furthermore was a severe one. From mid-November to mid-April the ships were icebound. The snow reached a height of four feet and more. The river froze as far as Hochelaga. Still more terrible than the winter was scurvy, which appeared among the natives of Stadacona in December; despite an attempt to set up a sanitary barrier against it, it attacked the French. By mid-February not more than 10 of Cartier’s 110 men were still well; 8 were dead, including the young Philippe Rougemont, on whom an autopsy was made. And the evil continued its ravages; 25 persons, all told, eventually died. Cartier and his men went in a procession to pray before an image of the Virgin, and Cartier promised to make a pilgrimage to Roc-Amadour. At last, by skilfully questioning Domagaya, who had had scurvy, Cartier learned the secret of the remedy: an infusion made from annedda (white cedar). The crew was quickly cured.

Cartier was eager to use his contacts with the natives to increase his knowledge. He is the first person to give us information on the religion and customs of the St. Lawrence valley Indians. The network of waterways was moreover beginning to take shape in his mind: the Richelieu, still unnamed, which came from “Florida”; the St. Lawrence, which was open to navigation for three months; to the north of Hochelaga, a river (the Ottawa) which led to great lakes and to a “freshwater sea”; great waterways which proved that the continental barrier was much broader than had been believed. All the wonderful stories that he heard about the fabulous kingdom of Saguenay, the legend of which was perhaps a relic of Norse traditions (unless the Mississippi basin was meant), were recorded by Cartier. This continent was already extremely rich in surprises!

When spring came they prepared to return to France. As his crew was not large enough, Cartier abandoned the Petite Hermine . Her remains were thought to have been found in 1842 and one portion was deposited with the Quebec Literary and Historical Society, the other being sent to Saint-Malo. But, as N.-E. Dionne has written, it has never been proved that this wreckage was that of the Petite Hermine .

Before leaving, Cartier wanted to strengthen the position of the French; the ethnic, linguistic, and political unity of the Laurentian valley already gave them an advantage, which was however endangered by the conduct of Donnacona and of his two sons. Cartier learned that a rival, Agona, was aspiring to power. A plan for a revolution became clear: to eliminate the ruling party on behalf of Agona. Cartier cunningly took advantage of a religious ceremony – the erection of a cross on the festival on 3 May – to capture Donnacona, the interpreters, and a few other natives. He appeased the crowd by promising to bring back Donnacona in 10 or 12 months, with lavish presents from the king.

On 6 May he left Sainte-Croix with his two ships and about ten Iroquois, including four children who had been given to him the previous autumn. In his cargo were a dozen pieces of gold and some furs. This time, as he sailed between Anticosti Island and the Gaspé Peninsula, he ascertained that the Îles de la Madeleine, then called the Araines, were in fact islands, and discovered between Newfoundland and Cape Breton the passage which he had not noticed in 1534. On 16 July 1536 he arrived back in Saint-Malo, after an absence of 14 months.

This second voyage had been much more profitable than the first: Cartier had discovered a river by means of which one could penetrate deeply into the continent; he had opened up a new access route to the gulf; he had seen the natural resources of the St. Lawrence and had got to know its inhabitants; he had returned with an old chieftain who boasted of having visited the fabulously wealthy country of the Saguenay; and he had gold.

Immediately on his return Cartier presented a report to François I; he spoke of a river 800 leagues long which might lead to Asia, and he got Donnacona to add his testimony. The king enthusiastically gave him the Grande Hermine .

However, the Saint-Malo navigator could not resume his explorations immediately. War broke out between François I and Charles V; Savoy effaced the thought of America. What became of Cartier? Lanctot ascribes to him a memoir of 1538, which outlines a colonization plan, but there is no documentary proof to lend support to this argument. Similarly Lanctot has attempted to forge a dramatic link between Cartier and the escape of the Irish rebel Gerald Fitzgerald, who styled himself a king. A first report from a spy states that Cartier went to Ireland to get Fitzgerald, a version which Lanctot hastily accepts; but in a second report drawn up by the same spy after a more extensive enquiry, Cartier’s role is limited to that of welcoming the refugee to Saint-Malo.

It was not until 17 Oct. 1540 that the king gave Cartier a commission for a third voyage. The discoverer was named captain-general of the new expedition, and he was to proceed to “Canada and Hochelaga, and as far as the land of Saguenay,” with individuals of “all kinds, arts and industries,” including some 50 men whom he was authorized to take from the prisons; exploration was to be carried out, and they were to live with the natives “if need be.” Cartier made ready: he arranged to have the 50 prisoners delivered to him, he asked certain spiritual favours from Rome, and he persuaded the king to intervene to hasten the recruitment of his crew.

On 15 Jan. 1541 a royal decision changed everything; the Protestant Jean-François de La Rocque de Roberval received a commission which placed him instead of Cartier at the head of a great colonizing undertaking. Lanctot has argued that Cartier remained on an equal footing with Roberval, the one concerned with colonization, the other with navigation. Yet the text of the commission is clear: Roberval was named the king’s “lieutenant general,” the “chief, leader, captain” of the undertaking, with authority over all those who would be part of “the said undertaking, expedition and army,” and all were to take “oath of fealty” to obey him; moreover, in this commission the king annulled the one granted in October. Cartier became in truth Roberval’s subaltern.

Cartier was ready in May 1541, but Roberval had not yet received his artillery. As the king was anxious that Cartier should set sail at once, Roberval gave him “full authority to leave” and instructed him to represent him. Cartier made his will on 19 May and on 23 May put to sea with five ships, including the Grande Hermine and the Émérillon . A Spanish spy put the crew at 1,500 men. Among Cartier’s companions might be mentioned two brothers-in-law: Guyon Des Granches, Vicomte de Beaupré, and the pilot Macé Jalobert; a nephew, Étienne Noël; and the shipmaster Thomas Fromont, dit La Bouille, who was to die during this voyage. None of the Iroquois whom he had brought to France in 1536 returned to Canada; they had all died, except for a little girl.

On 23 Aug. 1541 Cartier reappeared before Stadacona. The Indians received him with numerous demonstrations of joy. Cartier announced Donnacona’s death, but stated that the other Iroquois were living in France like lords and did not want to return, which must have delighted Agona. The friendly relations nonetheless did not last. The abandonment of the Sainte-Croix site can no doubt be explained by this mutual distrust. Cartier went up the river and established himself at the western extremity of the cape, at the mouth of the Rivière du Cap-Rouge. The settlement was first called “Charlesbourg-Royal.” This site appeared much more favourable than the first one; moreover white cedar was found there, and especially stones which were thought to be diamonds (hence the name Cap aux Diamants), and “certain leaves of fine gold.”

On 2 September Cartier despatched Jalobert and Noël, with two ships, to France, to make a report; then he began two forts, one at the base of the cape, the other at the top. On the seventh he left the settlement under the command of the Vicomte de Beaupré and sailed for Hochelaga, greeting his friend the chieftain of Achelacy on the way and entrusting to him two boys so that they could be taught the language. They were the first two Europeans to become pupils of the natives. Cartier’s intention was to examine the Hochelaga rapids in order to be able to clear them the following spring. The Indians proved to be affable, as they were in 1535, but Cartier had no interpreters. He made no progress in his knowledge of the hinterland, but persisted in his hypothesis of 1535.

When he returned, Cartier noticed that the Iroquois’ distrust was increasing. Even the chieftain of Achelacy abandoned him. The French made ready to defend themselves. As the account of this voyage breaks off suddenly, we do not know exactly what happened during the winter season. We may infer from one sentence in this account that there was some scurvy, readily overcome thanks to the infusion of white cedar; according to some testimonies, the natives kept the settlement in a state of siege and boasted of having killed more than 35 Frenchmen. Cartier struck camp in June 1542.

At the port of St. John’s (Newfoundland) he met Roberval, who had finally put in an appearance with his settlers and who ordered him to turn back. Believing that he was carrying gold and diamonds with him, or not wanting to face the natives again, Cartier headed for France under cover of darkness, thus depriving Roberval of manpower and of precious experience.

Cartier’s fleet was the fleet of illusions: the gold ore was nothing but iron pyrites, and the diamonds were quartz, hence the proverb “as false as Canadian diamonds.” It is not known whether Cartier was reprimanded for his insubordination; in any case he was not given the mission of repatriating Roberval in 1543, and he was not entrusted again with any long-range expedition.

Later Cartier had to sort out his accounts from Roberval’s, and he appeared before a special tribunal in the spring of 1544. He proved that he had been a faithful trustee of the king’s money and of Roberval’s and was repaid about 9,000 livres , although certain merchants claimed in 1588 that the people of Saint-Malo had not yet received what Cartier declared that he had paid them.

In 1545 appeared the Brief récit , an account of the second voyage, published anonymously and mentioning once only in the text the name of Cartier. The navigator is said to have written in this period a “book in the nature of a sea-chart,” but it has not been discovered. He received the Franciscan André Thevet , to whom he gave extensive information about Canada. An hypothesis has been advanced according to which a meeting between Rabelais and the explorer furnished some material for Pantagruel . This hypothesis has received less and less credence, and the last critic to mention it, Bernard G. Hoffman, does not accept it at all.

From this time on, Cartier apparently concentrated upon business and upon the exploitation of his estate of Limoilou. He acted as godfather, or served as a witness at court on various occasions. Cartier was no doubt a man who liked to do himself well; a note in a registry of births, marriages, and deaths associates him with the “hearty tipplers.” The documents of this period usually designate him as a “noble homme,” which places him in the well-established bourgeoisie . He died 1 Sept. 1557, probably at the age of 66 years.

In 1519 he had married Catherine Des Granches, daughter of Jacques Des Granches, chevalier du roi and constable of Saint-Malo; she died in April 1575. They seem to have had no children. It was a nephew, Jacques Noël , who was to try to carry on Cartier’s work.

No authentic portrait of Cartier is known. According to Lanctot, who has made a special study of Cartier’s iconography, eight pictures merit attention: a sketch about two inches high on the so-called Harleian Mappemonde (the latter is attributed to Pierre Desceliers and was made after 1542); a drawing on the Vallard map of 1547; a sketch one inch high in an edition of Ramusio in 1556; a portrait published in 1836 and made by Léopold Massard after the Desceliers sketch; a portrait by François Riss in 1839, reproduced by Théophile Hamel* ; a portrait published by Michelant, taken from a drawing which is said to have belonged to the BN and to have disappeared subsequently; a wooden medallion, 20 in. in diameter, dated 1704 and found in 1908 by Clarke in an old house in Gaspé; and, finally, the copy of a portrait belonging to one of the Marquis de Villefranche. Lanctot is inclined to think that the only authentic one of all these portraits is “the sketch on the Desceliers map,” the others being more or less accurate copies or even fanciful representations.

The accounts of Cartier’s voyages raise a still more awkward problem. The account of the first voyage was published initially in Italian by Ramusio in 1565, then in English by Florio in 1580, and finally in French by Raphaël du Petit-Val in 1598; it is this last text which was used by Marc Lescarbot . A manuscript preserved in the BN (no.841 of the Moreau collection) was edited by the Quebec Literary and Historical Society in 1843, by Michelant and Ramé in 1867, by H. P. Biggar in 1924, by J. Pouliot in 1934, and finally by Th. Beauchesne in 1946. But this manuscript is only a copy of an original which has today disappeared.

The account of the second voyage was published in French as early as 1545, but anonymously. The original manuscript which served for this edition has not been discovered either. Three manuscripts of the account of the second voyage have been preserved in the BN: no.5589, the best one, that published by Lescarbot and thought by Biggar to be the original; no.5644, which is faulty; no.5653, published at Quebec in 1843 and considered by Avezac to be the original. Robert Le Blant maintains in a recent study that none of the three is the original, and that all three are copies of a lost prototype.

Finally, for the account of the third voyage we possess only an incomplete English version compiled by Hakluyt in 1600, from a document which he had found in Paris around 1583 and which is now lost.

The authorship of the accounts is another problem which it has not been possible to resolve. The account of the third voyage, of which we have only the English version, gives us no indication. As for the account of the second voyage, Jehan Poullet has been suggested as the author. He was probably a native of Dol, in Brittany; he was first mentioned 31 March 1535, when he appeared before a meeting in Saint-Malo to submit the roll of the members of the next expedition. His name does not appear on this roll, but it occurs four times in the Brief récit published in 1545. It was in 1888 that Joüon Des Longrais submitted that Poullet, in view of “the obviously exaggerated importance given to him in the Brief Récit ,” must have had a hand in the writing of it, and he added: “Perhaps he is the author.” In 1901 Biggar revived the same argument. Furthermore, perceiving a certain similarity of style between the accounts of the first two voyages, Biggar assumes that Poullet is also the writer of the account of the first voyage. In 1949 another hypothesis was advanced: Marius Barbeau maintained that Rabelais rewrote Cartier’s accounts to present them to the king. Bernard G. Hoffman replied that they in no way recall the style of Rabelais, that the second account must of necessity have been sent to the king not later than 1536, that Rabelais did not know of Cartier’s voyages before 1538, in short that the hypothesis was unfounded.

The problem would be simpler if the original documents could be found, and above all if one knew Cartier better. In Biggar’s view it is obvious that the accounts, such as we know them, were taken from a ship’s log kept by Cartier, and shaped into a literary story. But, argues Biggar, if Cartier could keep a ship’s log, he was incapable of producing a literary story. That Cartier did not have the necessary literary talents has, however, never been demonstrated; to prove that he had not would be as difficult as to prove that he had. For the time being the author of the accounts remains unknown and the problem persists in its entirety.

Cartier has long been hailed by French-speaking historians as the discoverer of Canada. But did Cartier discover Canada? If we understand by that term the Canada of the 16th century, that is to say the region extending from approximately the Île d’Orléans to Portneuf, it is certainly Cartier who discovered it, but in 1535. Canada however has varied in its geographical dimensions: under the French régime it was identical with the settlement of the St. Lawrence, from Gaspé to the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region; the discoverer of this Canada was still Cartier. The same area, transformed in 1763 into the province of Quebec, became the Lower Canada of 1791, and in 1840 was merged with Ontario to form United Canada; up to Confederation the region called Canada still began only at the Gaspé Peninsula. Consequently one can affirm until 1867 that Cartier was the discoverer of Canada; the French-speaking historians were still perfectly correct. But Canada had not finished its development. By the Confederation of 1867 New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were added to it. If Nova Scotia was not reached by John Cabot, it certainly was by the Corte-Reals and by Fagundes; it appears on maps long before Cartier crossed the Atlantic. Finally, since 1949, the year that Newfoundland joined Confederation, the discovery of Canada in its present form must be attributed to the Italian Cabot, who had transferred his allegiance to England.

But even if Cartier’s explorations are not on the same scale as the exploits of Hernando de Soto or of certain South American explorers, he does have a place among the great names of the 16th century. He was the first to make a survey of the coasts of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, to describe the life of the Indians of northeastern North America, and, what is most to his credit, in 1535 he discovered the St. Lawrence River, which was to become the axis of the French empire in America, the vital route which would carry eager explorers towards Hudson Bay, towards the mysterious horizon of the western sea, and towards the Mississippi. Cartier discovered one of the greatest rivers in the world, and he marks the starting-point of France’s occupation of three-quarters of a continent.

Marcel Trudel

The following publications reproduce the various documents relating to Cartier known to date: Biggar, Documents relating to Cartier and Roberval . Hakluyt, Principal navigations (1903–5), VIII, 183–272 (Cartier’s three voyages). Jacques Cartier, Documents nouveaux , éd. F. Joüon Des Longrais (Paris, 1888). Precursors (Biggar). André Thevet, Les singularitez de la France antarctique, autrement nomée Amérique: & de plusieurs terres & isles découvertes de nostre temps (Paris, 1558; autre éd., Anvers, 1558; éd. Paul Gaffarel, Paris, 1878), an account which belongs among these documents.

The principal editions of Cartier’s voyages are as follows: Jacques Cartier, Bref récit; Brief récit & succincte narration . . . (Paris, 1545), reproduced by photostat in Jacques Cartier et la “grosse maladie” (XIX e Congrès international de Physiologie Pub., Montréal, 1953); Voyage de 1534 ; [—— et al .], Voyages de découverte au Canada, entre les années 1534 et 1542, par Jacques Quartier, le sieur de Roberval, Jean Alphonse de Xanctoigne, etc. suivis de la description de Québec et de ses environs en 1608, et de divers extraits relativement au lieu de l’hivernement de Jacques Quartier en 1535–36 (Société littéraire et historique de Québec, 1843). J.-C. Pouliot, La grande aventure de Jacques Cartier: épave bi-centenaire découverte au Cap des Rosiers en 1908 (Québec, 1934). “Voyages de Jacques Cartier au Canada,” éd. Th. Beauchesne, dans Les Français en Amérique (Julien), 77–197. Voyages of Cartier (Biggar). See also J.-E. Roy, Rapport sur les Archives de France relatives à l’histoire du Canada (PAC pub., VI, Ottawa, 1911), 669–72, which summarizes the history of the various mss of Cartier’s voyages and lists the various theories in regard to them.

Of the numerous published studies of Cartier only the most important are given here; certain of them include detailed bibliographies. These studies are listed in chronological order. N.-E. Dionne, Vie et voyages de Jacques Cartier (3 e éd., Québec, 1934) (first published in 1889); Étude archéologique: le fort Jacques Cartier et la Petite Hermine (Montréal, 1891). Biggar, Early trading companies . A.-J.-M. Lefranc, Les navigations de Pantagruel (Paris, 1905). [C.-J.-F. Hénault], “Extrait de la généalogie de la maison Le Veneur . . . ,” NF , VI (1931), 340–43. Marius Barbeau, “Cartier inspired Rabelais,” Can . Geog . J ., IX (1934), 113–25. Lionel Groulx, La découverte du Canada, Jacques Cartier (Montréal, 1934). Gustave Lanctot, Jacques Cartier devant l’histoire (Montréal, 1947); book reviewed by Lionel Groulx, RHAF , I (1947), 291–98. Les voyages de découverte et les premiers établissements (XV e , XVI e siècles) , éd. Ch.-A. Julien, (Colonies et empires, 3 e série, Paris, 1948). Hoffman, Cabot to Cartier , in particular 131–67. Robert Le Blant, “Les écrits attribués à Jacques Cartier,” RHAF , XV (1961–62), 90–103.

For the cartography of Cartier, see Marcel Trudel, Atlas historique du Canada français des origines à 1867 (Québec, 1961), cartes 14–23.

Revisions based on: Arch. et Patrimoine d ’ Ille-et-Vilaine (Rennes, France), “ Recherche documentaire: reg. paroissiaux et état civil , ” Saint-Malo, 1519: archives-en-ligne.ille-et-vilaine.fr/thot_internet/FrmSommaireFrame.asp (consulted 21 May 2014).

General Bibliography

© 1966–2024 University of Toronto/Université Laval

Image Gallery

Document history.

• Published 1966
• Revised 1979
• Sept. 2014, Minor Revision

Occupations and Other Identifiers

Region of birth.

• Europe – France

Region of Activities

• North America – Canada – Quebec – Lower St. Lawrence-Gaspé/North Shore
• North America – Canada – Quebec – Montréal/Outaouais
• North America – Canada – Quebec – Québec
• North America – Canada – Quebec – Trois-Rivières/Eastern Townships
• North America – Canada – Newfoundland and Labrador – Newfoundland

Related Biographies

VERRAZZANO, GIOVANNI DA

CABOT, JOHN

CORTE-REAL, GASPAR

LA ROCQUE DE ROBERVAL, JEAN-FRANÇOIS DE

THEVET, ANDRÉ

HAMEL, THÉOPHILE

LESCARBOT, MARC

FAGUNDES, JOÃO ALVARES

CHAMPLAIN, SAMUEL DE

MEMBERTOU (baptized Henri)

GAULTIER DE VARENNES ET DE LA VÉRENDRYE, PIERRE (Boumois)

FARIBAULT, GEORGES-BARTHÉLEMI

FERLAND, JEAN-BAPTISTE-ANTOINE

GARNEAU, FRANÇOIS-XAVIER

CARTIER, Sir GEORGE-ÉTIENNE

CHAUVEAU, PIERRE-JOSEPH-OLIVIER

DAWSON, Sir JOHN WILLIAM

HALE, HORATIO EMMONS

HOWLEY, MICHAEL FRANCIS

PROWSE, DANIEL WOODLEY

TACHÉ, EUGÈNE-ÉTIENNE

MACHAR, AGNES MAULE

PROUVILLE DE TRACY, ALEXANDRE DE

SNORRI THORFINNSSON

HAMEL, EUGÈNE (baptized Joseph-Eugène-Arthur)

Cite This Article

The citation above shows the format for footnotes and endnotes according to the chicago manual of style (16th edition). information to be used in other citation formats:.

• The Voyages of Jacques Cartier

In this Book

• With an introduction by Ramsay Cook
• Published by: University of Toronto Press

Jacques Cartier's voyages of 1534, 1535, and 1541constitute the first record of European impressions of the St Lawrence region of northeastern North American and its peoples. The Voyages are rich in details about almost every aspect of the region's environment and the people who inhabited it.

In addition to Cartier's Voyages , a slightly amended version of H.P. Biggar's 1924 text, the volume includes a series of letters relating to Cartier and the Sieur de Roberval, who was in command of cartier on the last voyage. Many of these letters appear for the first time in English.

Ramsay Cook's introduction, 'Donnacona Discovers Europe,' rereads the documents in the light of recent scholarship as well as from contemporary perspectives in order to understand better the viewpoints of Cartier and the native people with whom he came into contact.

Table of Contents

• Title Page, Copyright Page
• pp. vii-viii
• Donnacona Discovers Europe: Rereading Jacques Cartier's Voyages
• The Voyages
• Cartier's First Voyage, 1534
• Cartier's Second Voyage, 1535-1536
• Cartier's Third Voyage, 1541
• Roberval's Voyage, 1542-1543
• pp. 107-113
• Documents relating to Jacques Cartier and the Sieur de Roberval
• 1 Grant of Money to Cartier for His First Voyage
• 2 Commission from Admiral Chabot to Cartier
• 3 Choice of Vessels for the Second Voyage
• pp. 119-120
• 4 Payment of Three Thousand Livres to Cartier for His Second Voyage
• 5 Roll of the Crews for Cartier's Second Voyage
• pp. 122-124
• 6 Order from King Francis the First for the Payment to Cartier of Fifty Crowns
• 7 List of Men and Effects for Canada
• pp. 126-129
• 8 Letter from Lagarto to John the Third, King of Portugal
• pp. 130-133
• 9 The Baptism of the Savages from Canada
• 10 Cartier's Commission for His Third Voyage
• pp. 135-138
• 11 Letters Patent from the Duke of Brittany Empowering Cartier to Take Prisoners from the Gaols
• pp. 139-140
• 12 The Emperor to the Cardinal of Toledo
• pp. 141-142
• 13 An Order from King Francis to Inquire into the Hindrances Placed before Cartier
• 14 Roberval's Commission
• pp. 144-151
• 15 Secret Report on Cartier's Expedition
• pp. 152-155
• 16 Cartier's Will
• pp. 156-158
• 17 Examination of Newfoundland Sailors regarding Cartier
• pp. 159-168
• 18 Cartier Takes Part in a 'Noise'
• pp. 169-170
• 19 Statement of Cartier's Account
• pp. 171-176
• 20 Death of Cartier

Additional Information

Project muse mission.

Project MUSE promotes the creation and dissemination of essential humanities and social science resources through collaboration with libraries, publishers, and scholars worldwide. Forged from a partnership between a university press and a library, Project MUSE is a trusted part of the academic and scholarly community it serves.

2715 North Charles Street Baltimore, Maryland, USA 21218

+1 (410) 516-6989 [email protected]

©2024 Project MUSE. Produced by Johns Hopkins University Press in collaboration with The Sheridan Libraries.

Now and Always, The Trusted Content Your Research Requires

Built on the Johns Hopkins University Campus

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Without cookies your experience may not be seamless.

• Virginia Beach
• History & facts

Famous people

• Famous landmarks
• AI interviews
• Science & Nature
• Tech & Business

Discover something new everyday

• Famous places
• Food & Drinks
• Tech & Business

Famous people , Paris - Our top 10 lists

Top 14 Amazing Facts about Jacques Cartier

Read Next →

Top 20 Facts About Lionel Messi

Top 15 Unbelievable Facts about John Steinbeck

20 Amazing Facts about Jesse Owens

1. Before His First Voyage Jacques Cartier Built His Reputation

Saint-Malo. Photo by W. Bulach. Wikimedia Commons

2. Cartier Was Commissioned by the King to Explore North America In His First Voyage

King Francis I . Photo by anonymous. Wikimedia Commons

3. Cartier’s Second Voyage Was the Most Profitable

Lachine Rapids. Photo by TCY. Wikimedia Commons

4. Cartier’s Third Voyage Was Largely Unsuccessful

Jean-François de La Rocque de Roberval. Photo by Jean Clouet . Wikimedia Commons

5. Cartier Was the First to Claim Canada To Be a French Colony

6. the first person to document the name “canada” was jacques cartier, 7. the first european to navigate st. lawrence river was cartier.

St. Lawrence River. Photo by G. Lamar. Wikimedia Commons

8. Cartier Retired and Published A Book Called Bref Récit in 1545

9. cartier is one of the most significant figures in the history of canada, 10. cartier opened up the greatest waterway for penetration of north america by europeans, 11. jacques cartier worked with a number of indigenous peoples.

Batchelor, Lawrence R., 1887-1961. , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

12. Jacques Cartier began his career as a sailor by working on fishing vessels

13. cartier embarked on three separate expeditions to canada.

DenisStPierre , CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

14. He was knighted for his accomplishments

Planning a trip to Paris ? Get ready !

These are  Amazon’s best-selling  travel products that you may need for coming to Paris.

• The best travel book : Rick Steves – Paris 2023 –  Learn more here
• Fodor’s Paris 2024 –  Learn more here

Travel Gear

• Venture Pal Lightweight Backpack –  Learn more here
• Samsonite Winfield 2 28″ Luggage –  Learn more here
• Swig Savvy’s Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle –  Learn more here

Check Amazon’s best-seller list for the most popular travel accessories. We sometimes read this list just to find out what new travel products people are buying.

John calls himself a globetrotting wordsmith! His super fun nature takes him on whirlwind journeys to far-off lands - just for the thrill! He brings these adventure stories to life by penning articles about travel, adventures and Literature. He also enjoys sharing his expert knowledge about Business and Finance with readers.

Hello & Welcome

Free walking tours in Paris

Top 5 Tours & Sightseeing in Paris

• Tickets for Louvre Museum
• Musée d'Orsay Reserved Access
• Free Montmartre Tour
• Guided Tour of the Eiffel Tower + Summit access
• Arc de Triomphe: Skip The Line + Rooftop Access

with GetYourGuide and Tiqets

Popular Articles

Top 20 Streets to See in Paris

Paris in two days

Top 15 Things to do Around the Eiffel Tower

The Best Way to Visit Paris Museums

Top 15 Fashion Stores in Le Marais

Visit europe with discover walks.

• Paris walking tours
• Montmartre walking tour
• Lisbon walking tours
• Prague walking tours
• Barcelona walking tours
• Private tours in Europe
• Privacy policy

© 2024 Charing Cross Corporation

• Jacques Cartier

Annie Lee | May 27, 2023

Please Disable Ddblocker

We are sorry, but it looks like you have an dblocker enabled.

Our only way to maintain this website is by serving a minimum ammount of ads

Please disable your adblocker in order to continue.

Dafato needs your help!

Dafato is a non-profit website that aims to record and present historical events without bias.

The continuous and uninterrupted operation of the site relies on donations from generous readers like you.

Your donation, no matter the size will help to continue providing articles to readers like you.

Will you consider making a donation today?

Winter is here! Check out the winter wonderlands at these 5 amazing winter destinations in Montana

• Travel Tips

Why Did Jacques Cartier Go On His First Voyage

Published: December 20, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Kizzee Mullens

• Plan Your Trip

Introduction

Jacques Cartier, a prominent French explorer, is widely known for his expeditions to North America in the 16th century. His first voyage, which took place in 1534, holds great significance in the history of exploration and colonization. This article aims to delve into the motivations, preparations, objectives, and outcomes of Cartier’s inaugural journey.

During the Age of Discovery, European powers were eager to expand their dominion, unearth new trade routes, and acquire valuable resources from distant lands. France, under the reign of King Francis I, sought to establish a foothold in the lucrative trade of North America. Jacques Cartier, a skilled navigator and experienced sailor, was chosen to lead the expedition.

This voyage marked the beginning of French exploration in North America and laid the foundation for future expeditions and colonial endeavors. Cartier’s journey not only contributed to the geographical knowledge of the New World but also opened the doors to interactions with Indigenous peoples and the discovery of abundant natural resources.

In this article, we will explore the background of Jacques Cartier, his early exploration experiences, the motivations behind his first voyage, the preparations and planning involved, the objectives and goals set forth, the route taken, encounters with Indigenous peoples, exploration and mapping efforts, the search for natural resources, and the impact of the first voyage upon Cartier’s return.

Join us on this fascinating journey as we uncover the reasons why Jacques Cartier embarked on his first voyage and the lasting impact it had on European exploration and the shaping of the New World.

Background of Jacques Cartier

Jacques Cartier was born in Saint-Malo, Brittany, France in 1491. Growing up in a coastal town, he developed a deep fascination with the sea and maritime exploration. As a young man, he honed his navigational skills and gained valuable experience through voyages along the Atlantic coast.

Cartier’s expertise and adventurous spirit caught the attention of King Francis I of France, who was seeking skilled explorers to expand France’s presence in the New World. With his extensive knowledge of navigation and seafaring, Cartier was chosen to lead expeditions to North America in search of a Northwest Passage to Asia and potential riches.

Before his first voyage, Cartier participated in several smaller expeditions, including a trip to Brazil in 1520 and a journey to Newfoundland in 1524. These early experiences provided him with valuable insights into navigation techniques, interactions with Indigenous peoples, and the challenges of exploration in unfamiliar territories.

Cartier’s reputation as a skilled navigator grew, and he became well-versed in cartography, astronomy, and other sciences relevant to exploration. He studied maps and accounts of previous explorers, such as Giovanni da Verrazzano and John Cabot, which further fueled his ambitions to discover new lands and establish French influence.

Additionally, Cartier was deeply influenced by the prevailing spirit of the Age of Discovery. The allure of wealth, power, and fame associated with exploration motivated him to seek opportunities beyond the shores of Europe. He was driven by a sense of curiosity, adventure, and the desire to make significant contributions to the expanding knowledge of the world.

With a strong foundation of seafaring knowledge, a thirst for exploration, and the backing of the French monarchy, Jacques Cartier was well-prepared to embark on his first voyage. In the sections to come, we will explore the specific events and motivations that led him to venture into the uncharted territories of North America.

Early Exploration and Experiences

Prior to his first voyage to North America, Jacques Cartier had already amassed a wealth of experience through his early exploration ventures. These experiences played a crucial role in shaping his skills as a navigator and his understanding of the challenges and rewards of exploration.

In 1520, Cartier was part of an expedition to Brazil led by the Italian explorer, Giovanni da Verrazzano. This voyage exposed Cartier to the tropical climate, the diverse flora and fauna of the region, and interactions with the indigenous peoples of South America. It provided him with insights into the intricacies of navigating foreign coasts, negotiating with local populations, and adapting to new environments.

Following the Brazilian expedition, Cartier embarked on a journey to Newfoundland in 1524. This trip, authorized by the French crown, aimed to explore potential fishing grounds and establish French claims in North America. During this voyage, Cartier encountered the Mi’kmaq and Iroquoian peoples, establishing trade relations and gaining invaluable knowledge about the region’s resources and opportunities.

These early expeditions not only enhanced Cartier’s navigational skills but also showcased his ability to communicate and negotiate with Indigenous peoples. His interactions with these communities laid the groundwork for future encounters with Indigenous groups during his first voyage to North America.

Cartier’s experiences also extended beyond navigation and interactions with indigenous communities. He gained practical knowledge about the challenges of exploration, such as navigating treacherous waters, enduring harsh weather conditions, and maintaining the health and morale of the crew during long voyages.

Furthermore, Cartier studied the writings and maps of other explorers, including John Cabot and Martin Waldseemüller, which enriched his understanding of the geography and potential riches of the New World. This knowledge fueled his ambition to explore further and discover new lands for France.

Overall, Cartier’s early exploration experiences provided him with invaluable insights into navigation, intercultural interactions, resource assessment, and the hardships and triumphs of exploration. Armed with this knowledge and experience, Cartier was well-equipped to embark on his momentous first voyage to North America.

Motivations for the First Voyage

The first voyage of Jacques Cartier was driven by a combination of economic, political, and personal motivations. Understanding these underlying factors helps shed light on the significance and objectives of his expedition to North America in 1534.

Economically, there was a growing desire in Europe to find new trade routes to establish direct access to the wealth of Asia. The Ottoman Empire controlled the traditional overland routes, making them both costly and dangerous. European nations sought alternative maritime routes to bypass these obstacles and secure their share of the lucrative spice trade.

France, under the reign of King Francis I, aimed to challenge Spain and Portugal’s domination of overseas territories. Accessible trade routes would enable France to establish its own colonial presence and compete for valuable resources and trade opportunities.

Political factors also played a role in motivating Cartier’s voyage. King Francis I sought to strengthen France’s international prestige by expanding its influence beyond European borders. By claiming new territories and establishing trading footholds, France could increase its political stature in the global arena.

Additionally, Cartier had personal motivations of his own. Like many explorers of the Age of Discovery, he yearned for adventure, glory, and the opportunity to leave his mark on history. The allure of fame and recognition was a driving force behind his decision to embark on this perilous journey.

Furthermore, Cartier was captivated by the potential wealth and riches that North America promised. Reports of precious metals, such as gold and silver, along with the availability of lucrative fur trade, fueled his ambition to uncover these valuable resources for the benefit of his sponsors and himself.

Beyond economic and personal motivations, Cartier also expressed a genuine curiosity about the world and a desire to expand the boundaries of human knowledge. The spirit of the Renaissance, with its emphasis on exploration and intellectual curiosity, influenced Cartier’s desire to explore new lands, encounter different cultures, and expand scientific understanding.

Overall, the motivations for Jacques Cartier’s first voyage encompassed economic aspirations, political ambition, personal glory, and intellectual curiosity. These driving forces set the stage for an expedition that would not only contribute to European exploration and colonization but also shape the history and future of North America.

Preparations and Planning

Prior to setting sail on his first voyage to North America, Jacques Cartier and his team undertook extensive preparations and planning. These preparations were essential for ensuring the success and safety of the expedition.

One of the first steps in the planning process was securing the necessary funding and support. Cartier presented his proposal to King Francis I, emphasizing the potential economic benefits and strategic advantages of exploring and colonizing new territories. Impressed by his vision, the king provided Cartier with the necessary resources, including ships, supplies, and a crew.

In terms of logistics, Cartier supervised the outfitting of the ships, which included the flagship “La Grande Hermine” and two smaller vessels, “La Petite Hermine” and “L’Émérillon.” These ships were equipped with provisions, navigational instruments, weapons, and other essentials for a long and arduous journey.

Cartier also assembled a skilled crew that included sailors, navigators, cartographers, craftsmen, and interpreters. His crew consisted of individuals with diverse expertise to ensure the successful execution of various tasks and responsibilities throughout the voyage.

To facilitate communication with Indigenous peoples, Cartier enlisted the services of two interpreters. These interpreters had previous experience with Indigenous languages and cultures, enabling them to act as intermediaries between the crew and the indigenous communities encountered during the expedition.

In terms of navigation, Cartier diligently studied existing maps and charts to determine the best possible route and to gain an understanding of the expected challenges and landmarks along the way. He also consulted with other experienced navigators to gather additional insights and advice.

Cartier’s preparations were not limited to logistical and navigational aspects; he also made preparations for potential encounters with indigenous communities. He instructed his crew on how to interact respectfully with Indigenous peoples, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peaceful relations and establishing trade partnerships.

Additionally, Cartier gathered information from previous explorers and travelers who had encountered Indigenous peoples in North America. This helped him anticipate potential cultural differences, social customs, and possible challenges that may arise during the voyage.

Overall, the preparations and planning undertaken by Jacques Cartier and his team were meticulous and comprehensive. These preparations ensured that the expedition had the necessary resources, knowledge, and personnel to navigate the challenges of the open sea, interact with Indigenous peoples, and make significant exploration and scientific contributions to the New World.

Objectives and Goals

The first voyage of Jacques Cartier in 1534 had several objectives and goals, each contributing to the overall purpose of the expedition. These objectives encompassed exploration, mapping, trade, and expanding French influence in the New World.

One of the primary objectives of Cartier’s voyage was to discover a water route to Asia, often referred to as the elusive Northwest Passage. European powers believed that finding a shorter trade route to Asia would increase their profits and decrease reliance on the Ottomans who controlled the land routes. Cartier hoped to find a viable passage through the northern regions of North America.

Another important goal was to explore the lands previously visited by John Cabot and determine the extent of French claims in North America. By charting new regions and claiming them in the name of France, Cartier aimed to expand French influence and secure valuable territories for colonization and trade.

Cartier also sought to establish trade relations with Indigenous peoples, particularly in the hopes of securing precious resources, such as gold, silver, and spices. Trade was a central aspect of European exploration, and Cartier aimed to find new trading partners and exploit natural resources in the region.

In addition to exploration and trade, Cartier had scientific goals as well. He aimed to study the flora, fauna, geography, and indigenous cultures of the New World. This scientific curiosity was fueled by the Renaissance spirit of inquiry and the desire to expand human knowledge and understanding.

Furthermore, there were political objectives tied to the first voyage. By discovering new lands, claiming them for France, and establishing trade relations, King Francis I hoped to enhance French prestige, challenge the dominance of Spain and Portugal, and solidify France’s position as a global power.

Overall, the objectives and goals of Cartier’s first voyage were multifaceted. They encompassed exploration, mapping, trade, scientific inquiry, and political ambition. By pursuing these objectives, Cartier not only contributed to European knowledge of the New World but also laid the groundwork for subsequent French expeditions and colonization efforts in North America.

The Route and Journey

Jacques Cartier’s first voyage, which commenced in 1534, followed a carefully planned route through the Atlantic Ocean to the eastern coast of North America. The journey consisted of several key waypoints, each serving a specific purpose in exploration and discovery.

Setting sail from Saint-Malo, France, Cartier and his crew embarked on their voyage aboard three ships: La Grande Hermine, La Petite Hermine, and L’Émérillon. Their ultimate destination was the region now known as Newfoundland and Labrador, which had been previously explored by John Cabot.

The first leg of the journey took them across the Atlantic Ocean to the island of Newfoundland. From there, they navigated the treacherous waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which separates Newfoundland from mainland Canada. This was a challenging part of the journey, as the crew had to contend with strong currents and unpredictable weather conditions.

Upon reaching the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Cartier sailed westward until he reached the Strait of Belle Isle, a narrow passage that separates Labrador from Newfoundland. This marked a significant milestone in the journey, as it was Cartier’s first glimpse of the mainland of North America.

Continuing along the coast, Cartier explored the northern regions of North America, making stops at various points of interest along the way. He documented his discoveries with detailed maps and careful observations, noting geographic features, landmarks, and potential resources.

Cartier’s journey took him to the island of Prince Edward Island, the Magdalen Islands, and the Gaspe Peninsula. These locations afforded him opportunities to interact with Indigenous peoples, establish trade relations, and gather further knowledge about the region.

The final leg of the journey brought Cartier to the present-day site of Québec City. He sailed up the St. Lawrence River, reaching the village of Stadacona, the site of present-day Québec City. Here, he established friendly relations with the Iroquoian-speaking Indigenous people who inhabited the area.

After spending some time exploring the St. Lawrence River and its surrounding areas, Cartier determined that he had fulfilled his main objectives for the voyage. He made preparations to return to France, taking with him Indigenous individuals whom he intended to present to the French king as a show of goodwill and proof of his discoveries.

The return journey followed a similar route, retracing the steps of the outbound journey. In July 1534, Cartier and his crew arrived back in Saint-Malo, France, concluding their successful expedition.

In summary, Cartier’s route and journey during his first voyage took him from France to Newfoundland and Labrador, through the Gulf of St. Lawrence, along the eastern coast of North America, and up the St. Lawrence River. Along the way, he documented his discoveries, forged relationships with Indigenous peoples, and set the stage for future French exploration and colonization in the region.

Encountering Indigenous Peoples

During Jacques Cartier’s first voyage to North America in 1534, he had numerous encounters with Indigenous peoples along the eastern coast of the continent. These encounters played a significant role in shaping his understanding of the region and establishing relations with the local populations.

Cartier’s first notable encounter with Indigenous peoples occurred in Newfoundland. Here, he encountered the Beothuk people, who were cautious and wary of the strangers. Despite attempts at communication, Cartier’s crew was unable to establish meaningful contact or trade with the Beothuk.

Continuing his journey, Cartier reached the Gulf of St. Lawrence and made contact with the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet peoples. These Indigenous communities were more receptive to interactions and were open to establishing trade partnerships with the French explorers. Cartier exchanged European goods with the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet people, including metal tools, beads, and clothing.

As Cartier sailed further along the coast, he encountered the Iroquoian-speaking communities inhabiting the areas around present-day Prince Edward Island, the Magdalen Islands, and the Gaspe Peninsula. He established peaceful relations with these groups by presenting them with European trinkets and forming alliances through ceremonial rituals.

However, Cartier faced challenges in his interactions with Indigenous peoples. Communication barriers proved to be significant obstacles, as the French explorers did not speak the native languages, and only relied on a limited number of interpreters. This often led to misunderstandings and miscommunications during their interactions.

Despite these challenges, Cartier’s encounters with Indigenous peoples provided valuable insights into their cultures, customs, and ways of life. He observed their hunting practices, agricultural activities, and social structure, recording these observations in his journals and creating a better understanding of the Indigenous communities he encountered.

It is important to note that Cartier’s encounters with Indigenous peoples were not without tension. The French explorers occasionally found themselves in conflicts with Indigenous groups, particularly due to misunderstandings or clashes of cultural norms. Nonetheless, contact with Indigenous communities opened up opportunities for cultural exchange, trade, and the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Overall, Jacques Cartier’s interactions with Indigenous peoples during his first voyage were complex and varied. They ranged from curiosity to caution, from trade partnerships to language barriers. These encounters provided invaluable knowledge about the indigenous cultures, resources, and potential for future interactions with the Indigenous communities of North America.

Exploration and Mapping

Jacques Cartier’s first voyage to North America in 1534 was not only an exploration of new lands but also a significant endeavor in mapping the regions he encountered. Cartier’s mapping efforts were a crucial aspect of his expedition, as they provided valuable information about the geography, resources, and potential colonization prospects of the New World.

Equipped with navigational instruments and the expertise of his crew, Cartier meticulously charted the coastlines, rivers, and geographic features he encountered. He recorded detailed measurements, noted landmarks, and created maps to document his findings and facilitate future navigation.

Throughout his journey, Cartier produced accurate maps that outlined the routes he took, the islands and peninsulas he visited, and the rivers he traversed. His maps also indicated the locations where he made significant encounters, such as with Indigenous communities and areas of potential interest for trade and colonization.

Notable in Cartier’s mapping efforts is his exploration and mapping of the St. Lawrence River, a major waterway that would become a significant trade route in later years. Cartier recorded the names of the islands, coves, and other features along the river, enabling future navigators to navigate this important waterway.

Cartier made meticulous observations of the flora and fauna he encountered during his journey, noting the types of trees, plants, and animals present in the regions he explored. These observations contributed to a better understanding of the natural resources and potential economic opportunities in the New World.

In addition to mapping the physical features of the land, Cartier also made note of the Indigenous peoples and their settlements. His journals and maps provided valuable information about the locations of Indigenous communities, their social structures, and potential areas for trade and cultural exchange.

Cartier’s mapping efforts not only helped to create a more accurate understanding of the North American coastline but also laid the foundation for future exploration and colonization in the region. His maps became important navigational tools for other European explorers and cartographers, who relied on his work to plan their own expeditions.

Furthermore, Cartier’s maps became influential in shaping European perceptions of North America. They depicted the potential wealth and resources of the New World and fueled European interest in further exploration and colonization.

Overall, Jacques Cartier’s expedition involved extensive exploration and mapping efforts. His detailed charts and maps provided valuable knowledge about the geography, resources, and potential of the New World, shaping future European exploration and colonization of North America.

Natural Resources and Trading Opportunities

During Jacques Cartier’s first voyage to North America in 1534, he encountered a wealth of natural resources and identified numerous trading opportunities that held great economic potential. The exploration of the New World presented Europeans with the possibility of acquiring valuable resources and establishing profitable trade routes.

One of the most significant natural resources that Cartier encountered was the abundance of fish in the waters off the eastern coast of North America. The Grand Banks of Newfoundland, in particular, were known for their thriving populations of cod and other fish species. The fisheries of this region would become a major source of wealth for European settlers in the future.

Aside from fish, Cartier also observed vast forests with an abundance of timber resources. The New World offered different types of trees, such as pine, oak, and maple, which were highly sought after for shipbuilding, construction, and other industries in Europe. The potential for timber extraction and trade was substantial.

Cartier also noted the presence of valuable minerals and metals during his journey. Although he did not find the fabled gold and silver that he had hoped for, he observed evidence of iron, copper, and other minerals that could potentially be exploited for economic gain.

Furthermore, Cartier discovered the potential for the fur trade in the New World. He encountered Indigenous peoples who wore furs and observed their trade practices. The pelts of animals such as beavers, otters, and foxes were highly prized in Europe, and the fur trade would become a lucrative endeavor for European traders and settlers in the future.

The discovery of these natural resources and trading opportunities significantly influenced European perceptions of North America and fueled the desire to establish permanent settlements. The potential for economic prosperity through the exploitation of these resources motivated subsequent expeditions and colonization efforts by the French and other European powers.

Cartier’s observations and reports of the New World’s resources had a profound impact on European economic thinking at the time. They sparked interest in further exploration, colonization, and the establishment of trading networks. The economic potential of North America became a driving force behind European expansion and enterprise in the region.

In summary, Jacques Cartier’s first voyage to North America unveiled an array of natural resources, including fish, timber, minerals, and furs, that held significant trading opportunities. These discoveries paved the way for future exploitation, colonization, and economic development in the New World.

Return and Impact of the First Voyage

After completing his first voyage to North America in 1534, Jacques Cartier returned to France with a wealth of knowledge, maps, and insights. The impact of his expedition was far-reaching, leaving a lasting impression on European exploration, colonization, and the understanding of the New World.

Cartier’s return to France marked the beginning of a period of intense interest in North America. His vivid accounts of the lands he had explored, the resources he had encountered, and the potential for trade and colonization sparked widespread curiosity and enthusiasm.

The detailed maps and charts he created during his voyage provided the most accurate depiction of the North American coastline up until that point. These maps became essential tools for future explorers, cartographers, and navigators, allowing for more precise and informed explorations of the region.

Cartier’s reports of the natural resources, particularly the bountiful fish and timber, fueled European ambitions to extract wealth from the New World. This led to increased fishing expeditions, the establishment of permanent settlements, and the development of trading networks in North America.

The fur trade, which Cartier observed during his interactions with Indigenous peoples, became a major economic driver. European traders, motivated by the desire for valuable furs, entered into partnerships and competed for control over the fur-rich regions, leading to the establishment of trading posts and the gradual colonization of the continent.

Furthermore, Cartier’s encounters with Indigenous peoples and his documentation of their cultures and customs provided Europeans with a glimpse into the diverse societies of the New World. Although the initial interactions were often fraught with misunderstandings and conflicts, they laid the foundation for future relationships between Europeans and Indigenous communities.

The impact of Cartier’s first voyage extended beyond exploration and trade. It influenced the French monarchy’s decision to sponsor subsequent voyages and establish French colonies in North America. These colonies, such as New France (present-day Canada), would play a significant role in the history of European colonization in the region.

Additionally, Cartier’s reports and documentation of the New World’s riches and opportunities enhanced the prestige of the French crown. They contributed to a sense of national pride and fueled France’s ambitions to challenge the dominant powers of Spain and Portugal in the colonization and exploration of the Americas.

Overall, the return of Jacques Cartier from his first voyage had a profound impact on European exploration, colonization, and the understanding of the New World. His maps, reports, and insights served as catalysts for further expeditions, trade ventures, and the establishment of colonies that would shape the course of history in North America.

Jacques Cartier’s first voyage to North America in 1534 marked a significant milestone in the history of exploration and colonization. His journey, motivated by economic, political, and personal aspirations, resulted in a range of remarkable accomplishments and lasting impacts.

From his background as a skilled navigator and his early exploration experiences, Cartier was well-prepared to embark on his inaugural expedition. With meticulous preparations and planning, including securing funding, assembling a capable crew, and outfitting the ships, he set sail with clear objectives and goals in mind.

Cartier’s route and journey took him along the eastern coast of North America, from Newfoundland to the St. Lawrence River. Along the way, he explored and documented previously uncharted regions, encountered diverse Indigenous peoples, and made valuable observations about the natural resources and trading opportunities available.

His interactions with Indigenous communities, although not without challenges, provided insights into their cultures and established the groundwork for future relationships and trade networks. The maps and charts created by Cartier during his voyage significantly contributed to European knowledge of the New World and guided future exploration and colonization.

The return of Cartier to France with his reports, maps, and samples of the New World’s resources sparked interest and fervor among European powers. The information he provided influenced subsequent expeditions, colonization efforts, and the development of trading networks in North America.

Furthermore, Cartier’s first voyage had a profound impact on French ambitions and the balance of power in European colonization. It fueled France’s desire to challenge the dominance of Spain and Portugal, established a foundation for French presence in North America, and inspired future explorers and settlers to venture into the New World.

In conclusion, Jacques Cartier’s first voyage to North America was a pivotal moment in the history of exploration and colonization. His voyage, motivated by economic, political, and personal motivations, led to significant discoveries, mapping achievements, and the opening of new trade opportunities. The impact of his expedition set the stage for future European involvement in North America and shaped the course of history in the New World.

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.