Jacques Cartier

One of the most respected navigators in france is Jacques Cartier. Jacques Cartier was born in the seaport of Saint Malo, France. Before he became a captain he had to study navigation in Dieppe. Dieppe is a major French center for navigation. After he studies navigation everyone respected him. Many people do not know Cartier's family background. Before Cartier was a captain he started off as a cabin boy. He had to learn seamanship, navigation, mapmaking, and astronomy. Cabin boys crowded in the lower decks which were dark and smelly.

The crew had to eat dry biscuits and a half-pound of salted meat or fish. But in the nineteenth century they found out that rats , mice, or insects had infested their food. There were other problems such as pirates. Pirates will board a ship and they would mostly carry guns and take all of your goods and treasures. Also if a cannon was launched or a crew member was smoking that can cause fires. Jcques Cartier went to a trade route east to find gold and treasure. It was a great idea to travel so Jacques can claim more land for France and find more riches.

His first voyage was with a fisherman in the 1520s. But people say his official first voyage was to the New World. Francis the first gave Jacques permission. France hoped they will find wealth in Americas like the Spanish. Cartier got two small ships and sixty one crew members. He left Saint Malo in April. In three weeks he was sailing down the coast of Newfoundland. He discovered the Magdalene and Prince Edward islands. He crossed the Gaspe Peninsula then toke possession of it for France.

In 1535, the king sent him again. He sailed up to Mont Real which is now Montreal, Canada. They spent winters in the Indian villages. Cartier watched twenty five of his men die. The name of the tribe was the Huran's they were so nice to him but he betrayed them. He kidnapped twelve Indians and their chief and headed straight for France. Cartier hoped that the prisoners will tell him where their gold was located. But there was no gold at all.

His third and final voyage was in 1541. This expedition was put together to help Jean-Francois De La Rocque, Sier De Roberval. They could not find enough French colonists willing to give up the advantaged. Roberval asked the government for help. They were freeing prisoners to join the expedition. In 1544 Roberval was ready with a supply ship, only to find that Cartier went back to France. Cartier left Roberval stranded in a ship with robbers and murderers. Cartier never found the Northwest Passage. But he did find the route from France to Canada.

As stated above, Jacques Cartier was a successful explorer. He discovered the route from France to Canada. He meet new people and conqured land in his journeys. I consider Jacques a crook because he kidnapped people ans stole land from others. He also abandoned one of his friends from an expedtion. He became what he wanted to be when he grew up. I think he is a hard working man because he started off as a cabin boy then worked himself to a captain. He also studied seafaring which was a difficult and dangerous proffession. Jacques Cartier is the most respected navigators in France.