Jacques Cartier was a French explorer who sailed for King Francis I. He was seeking wealth and a northwestern trade route to Asia. Cartier sailed on three voyages, traveling up the St. Lawrence River to Quebec.PBS: Jacques Cartier Despite the Iroquois natives already living there, he claimed the land for France.

As with any historical subject, the record of Jacques Cartier's life is subject to discrepancies and contradictions. For example, some sources give credit to Jean-Francois de la Roque de Roberval (who sailed with Cartier on the third voyage) for building the settlement of Charlesbourg-Royal, while other sources credit Cartier with building the colony.The Library of Congress: Attempts at Colonization in the 16th CenturyPathfinders and Passageways: Jacques Cartier: New Land for the French King Some historians also claim that Cartier had sailed before his first official voyage in 1534, perhaps sailing with Giovanni da Verrazzano. However, his voyage in 1534 was his first time in charge, sailing under orders from King Francis I of France.The Canadian Museum of Civilization: To the New Lands

Jacques Cartier has had several monuments erected in his name due to his successful voyages. There is a main street called after Jacques Cartier in the port of Montreal, called Place Jacques Cartier. There is also a river, bridge, park and pavillion called after Jacques Cartier http://www.montrealroads.com/crossings/jacques-cartier/. A Jacques Cartier statue was also erected in 1926 in Quebec in front of the Jacques Cartier square

• 1491: Born in Santo-Malo, a port in Brittany

• 1519: Marries Marie Katherine des Granches

• 1532: Is introduced to King Francis I of France

• 1534: Is commissioned by King Francis I to find a western passage to Asia

• 1534: Explores Newfoundland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence beginning in May

• 1534: Returns to France in September with two captive sons of Chief Donnacona

• 1535: Second voyage begins in May, Chief Donnacona is reunited with his sons

• 1536: Returns to France with Chief Donnacona

• 1541: Departs on third voyage

• 1541: Builds fort and settlement called Charlesbourg-Royal

• 1541-1542: Colonists collect pyrite and quartz assuming they have found gold and diamonds

• 1542: Cartier returns to France in the spring

• 1543: Charlesbourg-Royal is abandoned due to disease and hostile natives

• 1557: Cartier dies in France

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