Jacques Cartier was born in France, Dec. 31, 1494; was commissioned by Francis I., King of France, to command an expedition to explore the newly discovered (to the Europeans that is) Western Continent. On April 20, 1534, , he sailed from France with two ships, having each a crew of 120 men, and, after a prosperous voyage of twenty days, they arrived at the already discovered area by John Cabot, Newfoundland. Sailing northward, he entered the Strait of Belle Isle, and, touching the coast of Labrador. Cartier will formally take possession of the country in the name of France, and placed a cross, upon which he hung the arms of France. Turning southward, he followed the west coast of Newfoundland to Cape Race. Then he explored the Bay of Chaleurs, landed in GaspeBay, held friendly meetings with the natives, and convinced a chief to allow two of his sons to go with him to France, promising to return them the next year. There, also, he planted a cross with the French arms upon it, and, sailing then northeast across the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and entered the branch of the St. Lawrence River. Cartier was at first unaware that he had discovered a magnificent river that would have guided him through the Great Lakes, he turned and sailed for France to avoid the autumn storms, and arrived back at France in 1535.
Encouraged by the success of this voyage, the King placed Cartier in command of three ships, which left France the next year in the middle of May. Separated by storms, they met at the appointed rendezvous, in the Strait of Belle Isle, in July, and sailed up the St. Lawrence to the mouth of a river (now St. Charles) at the site of Quebec, which they reached on September 14. Cartier will sail up the river in the smallest ship that they had, with two or three volunteers, and, with a small boat, they reached the Huron village called Hochelaga, and called the mountain behind the villiage Mont Real (Royal Mountain), and will be the future settlement of Montreal. There he enjoyed the kindest hospitality from the Huron people. Early in October, the Frenchmen spent a severe winter there, during which twenty-five of them died of scurvy. Nearly every one of them had the disease. He formally took possession of the territory in the name of France, and, just before his departure (May 9, 1536), he invited the Huron’s eight chiefs on board the flag-ship to a feast. They came, and Cartier treacherously sailed away with them to France as captives, where they will all die either of disease or suicide.
Cartier will make 4 more voyages to the New World and explore the St. Lawerence river and travel into the Great Lakes area, and in fact will even encounter the Huron to whom he took captive of their chiefs. Hostilities will break out, however eventually the French and the Huron will sign a peace treaty and be relatively peaceful throughout each other’s existence. Although Cartier’s voyages will not bring back treasures, his exploration will lead to the future French settlements of Montreal and Quebec.