Summary
Jacques Cartier was a French explorer from Saint-Malo who made three voyages to northeastern North America in search of wealth and the Northwest Passage to Cathay (China) and the Far East. On his first voyage (1543), he encountered Native American Indians, including some Iroquois, and traded with the Micmac. He raised a cross at Gaspé Harbor that claimed the region for France. The second voyage (1535) explored the region further and named Mount Royal. Over the winter, the Iroquois told him about the “Kingdom of the Saguenay” where gold, rubies, and other precious minerals were available. On his third voyage (1541), he established a colony at Charlesbourg-Royal near Stadacona. However, violence with the Iroquois led Cartier to abandon the settlement and return to France, where he documented his voyages prior to his death in 1557.
Personal Facts
- Born: 1491, in Saint-Malo, Brittany, France
- Parents: Jamet Cartier (father) and Josseline Jansart (mother)
- Spouse: Catherine des Granges (1520)
- Died: September 1, 1557, in Saint-Malo.
- Buried: Saint-Malo Cathedral.
- Part Of: European Adventurers.
Key Details
- Occupation: Cartier was a French explorer and sailor.
- Exploration: Cartier made three voyages to the St. Lawrence region of northeastern North America.
- Colonial Activity: Cartier established Charlesbourg-Royal near Stadacona during his third expedition.
Significance
Jacques Cartier is important to American History because his three voyages explored and mapped the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the St. Lawrence River Valley. Although he failed to discover major mineral wealth, find the Northwest Passage, or establish a permanent colony, his expeditions increased French knowledge of northeastern North America. His voyages helped set the stage for French colonial expansion, with the St. Lawrence River Valley later becoming the center of New France.
Biography
Jacques Cartier was a 16th-century French explorer whose three voyages to North America helped establish French interest in the St. Lawrence River region. Born in Saint-Malo, Brittany, France, in 1491, Cartier became an experienced sailor and married Catherine des Granges in 1520.
According to some sources, Cartier sailed to the New World sometime between 1520 and 1534, and visited Newfoundland and Brazil. When King Francis I of France decided to fund an expedition to explore the New World, a church official, Jean Le Veneur de Tellière, recommended Cartier. In 1534, Francis I commissioned Cartier to search for wealth, new lands, and a possible passage to Asia. Cartier sailed for the New World on April 20, 1534.
Cartier’s First Expedition
During his first expedition, Cartier explored Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Quebec, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence and claimed these territories for France. He also encountered native peoples, including the Micmac, Stadacona, and Hochelaga; the latter two being known as the “St. Lawrence Iroquois.”
At Gaspé Harbor, Cartier erected a wooden cross bearing the words “Vive le Roi De France.” This upset the Stadaconan leader Donnacona. Cartier responded by kidnapping two of his relatives, Taignoagny and Domagaya, and taking them with him.
Cartier started to explore the St. Lawrence River, but the impending hurricane season forced him to return to France. He left North America on September 5, 1534, and took Taignoagny and Domagaya with him.
Cartier’s Second Expedition
Francis I was pleased with the first expedition and issued a commission for a second one. Cartier left Saint-Malo on May 19, 1535, accompanied by Taignoagny and Domagaya, who had both learned some French and could act as interpreters.
When Cartier reached Canada, he went to Stadacona. He wanted to travel further up the St. Lawrence River, but Donnacona wanted him to remain. Donnacona was upset when Cartier left and traveled to Hochelaga, near present-day Montreal.
While Cartier was at Hochelaga, he preached to the Iroquois and climbed the mountain he named “Mount Royal.” From the summit, he surveyed the river, saw strong rapids, and decided he would not be able to go further and make his way to China. Because of this, the rapids were named “La Chine,” the French word for China.
Afterward, he returned to Stadacona, which likely upset the Hochelaga. Cartier and his crew spent the winter of 1535–1536 at Stadacona. When both groups were plagued by scurvy, the Iroquois showed the French how to brew a drink to fight it. Despite this, roughly 50 Iroquois and 25 French died.
Over the winter, the Iroquois told Cartier stories about a place called the “Kingdom of Saguenay” where they said he would find gold and people with blonde hair who dressed in clothing made of wool.
The deaths of his men contributed to Cartier’s growing distrust of the Iroquois at Stadacona and led him to become involved in a power struggle between Donnacona and a rival named Agona. Cartier supported Agona as the new leader of the Iroquois at Stadacona and proceeded to abduct Donnacona and nine others. He wanted them to repeat their stories about Saguenay to Francis I, so he would fund future expeditions. Cartier apparently promised to bring them back to Stadacona, and he sailed for France on May 6, 1536.
None of the Iroquois returned to North America. Nine of them died while they were in France. The lone survivor was a young girl. Cartier refused to take her on his next expedition.
Cartier’s Third Expedition
Despite the stories that riches were to be found in Saguenay, ongoing wars in Europe delayed Cartier’s third expedition until 1541. Francis I approved the expedition, which was tasked with establishing a colony somewhere along the St. Lawrence River and was to be led by Jean-François de La Rocque de Roberval; however, Roberval could not sail with Cartier.
During this third expedition, Cartier returned to Stadacona, where he told the Iroquois that the others were living in France. This upset them, and tensions increased after he established a new settlement, Charlesbourg-Royal, nine miles upriver from Stadacona, where the settlers cleared land, planted crops, and built a fort. This led to violence and the deaths of at least 35 French settlers during the winter of 1541–1542. In the spring of 1542, Cartier abandoned the settlement and set sail for France with minerals he mistakenly believed were gold and diamonds.
When he was near the coast of Newfoundland, he encountered Roberval, who was sailing to Charlesbourg-Royal and had been named Lieutenant-General of France’s territory in Canada. Although Roberval insisted he return to the settlement, Cartier refused and returned to France. Roberval traveled to Charlesbourg-Royal. He stayed there for roughly one year and returned to France in 1543.
Later Years and Death
Cartier never returned to Canada. He spent his remaining years in Saint-Malo, wrote an account of his voyages, and died there on September 1, 1557. Cartier was 65 years old when he died. His body was interred at the Saint-Malo Cathedral.
Timeline
- 1491 — Jacques Cartier was born in Saint-Malo, Brittany, France.
- 1520 — Cartier married Catherine des Granges.
- 1534 — King Francis I commissioned Cartier to search for wealth and new lands near Newfoundland.
- 1534, April 20 — Cartier departed Saint-Malo on his first expedition.
- 1534, May — He reached the Strait of Belle Isle and entered the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
- 1534 — Cartier explored the coasts of Newfoundland, New Brunswick, and Quebec and encountered native peoples.
- 1534 — He erected a 30-foot wooden cross at Gaspé Harbor and claimed territory for France. Cartier seized two natives, Taignoagny and Domagaya, whom he took with him to France.
- 1534, September 5 — Cartier returned to Saint-Malo.
- 1535 — He received another royal commission to continue exploring North America.
- 1535, May 19 — Cartier departed Saint-Malo on his second expedition. Taignoagny and Domagaya returned with him.
- 1535 — He traveled along the St. Lawrence River to Stadacona and Hochelaga.
- 1535 — Cartier climbed and named Mount Royal.
- 1535–1536 — Cartier and his crew spent the winter near Stadacona.
- 1536, May 6 — He left Canada for France after abducting Donnacona and several other Stadaconans.
- 1541 — Cartier returned to the St. Lawrence River region as part of a French colonial expedition.
- 1541 — He established Charlesbourg-Royal near Stadacona.
- 1541 — Cartier explored areas south of Hochelaga.
- 1542, June — He returned to France with his colonists.
- 1557, September 1 — Cartier died.
AP US History
Definition
Jacques Cartier (1491–1557) — Cartier was a French explorer who made three voyages to northeastern North America for King Francis I. Searching for wealth, new lands, and a passage to Asia, he explored the Gulf of St. Lawrence and traveled along the St. Lawrence River to Stadacona and Hochelaga. Although his colonial efforts failed, Cartier’s maps and voyages helped establish French interest in the St. Lawrence River Valley and later colonial expansion in North America.
Alignment
Jacques Cartier is part of the following AP US History sections:
