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45-654: Gaspé Bay is where Jacques Cartier took possession of New France (now part of Canada) in the name of François I of France on July 24, 1534 - the beginning of France's overseas expansion . British General James Wolfe raided the Bay in the Gulf of St. Lawrence Campaign (1758) , the year before the Siege of Quebec . 48°46′01″N 64°17′20″W  /  48.767°N 64.289°W  / 48.767; -64.289 Paleobotanical fossils and trace fossils of Archaeognatha from

90-408: A Huguenot courtier and friend of the king named as the first lieutenant general of French Canada . Roberval was to lead the expedition, with Cartier as his chief navigator. While Roberval waited for artillery and supplies, he gave permission to Cartier to sail on ahead with his ships. On May 23, 1541, Cartier departed Saint-Malo on his third voyage with five ships. This time, any thought of finding

135-417: A French expression: " faux comme les diamants du Canada " ("As false as Canadian diamonds"). Two of the ships were sent on their journey home with some of these minerals on September 2. Having set tasks for everyone, Cartier left with the longboats for a reconnaissance in search of "Saguenay" on September 7. Having reached Hochelaga, he was prevented by bad weather and the numerous rapids from continuing up to

180-417: A concoction made from a tree known as annedda , probably Spruce beer , or arbor vitae , would cure scurvy. This remedy likely saved the expedition from destruction, allowing 85 Frenchmen to survive the winter. In his journal, Cartier states that by mid-February, "out of 110 that we were, not ten were well enough to help the others, a pitiful thing to see". The Frenchmen used up the bark of an entire tree in

225-529: A harbour close to Stadacona, and used his smallest ship to continue on to Hochelaga (now Montreal), arriving on October 2, 1535. Hochelaga was far more impressive than the small and squalid village of Stadacona, and a crowd of over a thousand came to the river's edge to greet the Frenchmen. The site of their arrival has been confidently identified as the beginning of the Sainte-Marie Sault – where

270-600: A passage to the Orient was forgotten. The goals were now to find the "Kingdom of Saguenay" and its riches, and to establish a permanent settlement along the St. Lawrence River. Anchoring at Stadacona, Cartier again met the Iroquoians , but found their "show of joy" and their numbers worrisome, and decided not to build his settlement there. Sailing a few kilometres upriver to a spot he had previously observed, he decided to settle on

315-544: A ship, and that he entered and departed some 50 undiscovered harbours without serious mishap, he may be considered one of the most conscientious explorers of the period. Cartier was also one of the first to formally acknowledge that the New World was a land mass separate from Europe/Asia. On August 18, 2006, Quebec Premier Jean Charest announced that Canadian archaeologists had discovered the precise location of Cartier's lost first colony of Charlesbourg-Royal . The colony

360-405: A week on the cure, and the dramatic results prompted Cartier to proclaim it a Godsend, and a miracle. Ready to return to France in early May 1536, Cartier decided to kidnap Chief Donnacona and take him to France, so that he might personally tell the tale of a country further north, called the " Kingdom of Saguenay ", said to be full of gold, rubies and other treasures. After an arduous trip down

405-649: Is located in the province of Quebec. Due to it being covered almost entirely by the Canadian Shield — a vast, rocky plateau with a history of glaciation — the peninsula has a large number of lakes. The province of Quebec alone has more than half a million lakes of varying size. The largest body of water on the Labrador Peninsula is the Smallwood Reservoir , but the largest natural lake is Lake Mistassini . Other lakes of note include

450-600: Is not strictly the European discoverer of Canada as this country is understood today, a vast federation stretching a mari usque ad mare (from sea to sea). Eastern parts had previously been visited by the Norse, as well as Basque, Galician and Breton fishermen, and perhaps the Corte-Real brothers and John Cabot (in addition of course to the natives who first inhabited the territory). Cartier's particular contribution to

495-818: The Devonian period have been found on the bay's shores. The town of Gaspé, Quebec lies on a part of its southern shore, while most of its northern shore is in the Forillon National Park . The main rivers draining to the bay are the Dartmouth River and the York River (the latter one has its mouth in the city center of Gaspé). This Quebec location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Jacques Cartier Jacques Cartier ( Breton : Jakez Karter ; 31 December 1491 – 1 September 1557)

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540-626: The Edict of Union , Cartier was introduced to King Francis I by Jean Le Veneur , bishop of Saint-Malo and abbot of Mont Saint-Michel , at the Manoir de Brion . The King had previously invited (although not formally commissioned) the Florentine explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano to explore the eastern coast of North America on behalf of France in 1524. Le Veneur cited voyages to Newfoundland and Brazil as proof of Cartier's ability to "lead ships to

585-682: The Manicouagan Reservoir , the Caniapiscau Reservoir , and the La Grande 2 and La Grande 3 reservoirs. Due to a history of hydroelectric development, the majority of the larger freshwater lakes on the peninsula are reservoirs. In addition to an abundance of lakes, the peninsula also has many rivers. The longest, the La Grande River, is 900 kilometres (560 mi) long and flows westwards across nearly half

630-601: The National Bank of Canada . In 2005, Cartier's Bref récit et succincte narration de la navigation faite en MDXXXV et MDXXXVI was named one of the 100 most important books in Canadian history by the Literary Review of Canada . Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip reference Jacques Cartier in their 1992 song " Looking for a Place to Happen ". The song deals with the subject of European encroachment in

675-663: The New World and the eventual annexation of indigenous lands in North America. Labrador Peninsula The Labrador Peninsula or Quebec-Labrador Peninsula , is a large peninsula in eastern Canada . It is bounded by Hudson Bay to the west, the Hudson Strait to the north, the Labrador Sea to the east, Strait of Belle Isle and the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the southeast. The peninsula includes

720-464: The Ottawa River . Returning to Charlesbourg-Royal, Cartier found the situation ominous. The Iroquoians no longer made friendly visits or peddled fish and game, but prowled about in a sinister manner. No records exist about the winter of 1541–1542 and the information must be gleaned from the few details provided by returning sailors. It seems the natives attacked and killed about 35 settlers before

765-590: The bridge named after him now stands. The expedition could proceed no further, as the river was blocked by rapids. So certain was Cartier that the river was the Northwest Passage , and that the rapids were all that was preventing him from sailing to China, that the rapids and the town that eventually grew near them came to be named after the French word for China, La Chine : the Lachine Rapids and

810-697: The Birds, now the Rochers-aux-Oiseaux federal bird sanctuary , northeast of Brion Island in the Magdalen Islands), his crew slaughtered around 1000 birds, most of them great auks (extinct since 1852). Cartier's first two encounters with aboriginal peoples in Canada on the north side of Chaleur Bay , most likely the Mi'kmaq , were brief; some trading occurred. His third encounter took place on

855-719: The East Cree of Eeyou Istchee (ᐄᔨᔨᐤ/ᐄᔨᔫ/ᐄᓅ ᐊᔅᒌ) , the Naskapi whose territories are called St'aschinuw (ᒋᑦ ᐊᔅᒋᓄᐤ, also meaning "our land") as well as the Inuit of Nunavik , Nunatsiavut and NunatuKavut . The area became known as Markland in Greenlandic Norse and its inhabitants were known as the Skræling . It is widely accepted that the peninsula is named after Portuguese explorer João Fernandes Lavrador . He

900-589: The French fleet lay frozen solid at the mouth of the St. Charles River , under the Rock of Quebec. Ice was over a fathom (1.8 m) thick on the river, with snow four feet (1.2 m) deep ashore. To add to the misery, scurvy broke out – first among the Iroquoians, and then among the French. Cartier estimated the number of dead Iroquoians at 50. On a visit by Domagaya to the French fort, Cartier inquired and learned from him that

945-484: The Frenchmen could retreat behind their fortifications. Even though scurvy was cured through the native remedy ( Thuja occidentalis infusion), the impression left is of a general misery, and of Cartier's growing conviction that he had insufficient manpower either to protect his base or to go in search of the Saguenay Kingdom. Cartier left for France in early June 1542, encountering Roberval and his ships along

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990-568: The Labrador Peninsula is shaped as a lesser peninsula, the Ungava Peninsula , surrounded by Hudson Bay, the Hudson Strait , and Ungava Bay . The northernmost point of the Ungava Peninsula, Cape Wolstenholme , also serves as the northernmost point of the Labrador Peninsula and of the province of Quebec. The peninsula is a plateau threaded by river valleys. There are several mountain ranges. The Torngat Mountains , located in

1035-547: The Newfoundland coast, at about the time Roberval marooned Marguerite de La Rocque . Despite Roberval's insistence that he accompany him back to Saguenay, Cartier slipped off under the cover of darkness and continued on to France, still convinced his vessels contained a wealth of gold and diamonds. He arrived there in October, in what proved to be his last voyage. Meanwhile, Roberval took command at Charlesbourg-Royal, but it

1080-536: The St. Lawrence River—an indispensable preliminary to French settlement in their lands. Cartier was the first to document the name Canada to designate the territory on the shores of the St-Lawrence River. The name is derived from the Huron – Iroquois word kanata , or village, which was incorrectly interpreted as the native term for the newly discovered land. Cartier used the name to describe Stadacona,

1125-520: The St. Lawrence and a three-week Atlantic crossing, Cartier and his men arrived in Saint-Malo on July 15, 1536, concluding the second, 14-month voyage, which was to be Cartier's most profitable. On October 17, 1540, Francis ordered the navigator Jacques Cartier to return to Canada to lend weight to a colonization project of which he would be "captain general". However, January 15, 1541, saw Cartier supplanted by Jean-François de La Rocque de Roberval ,

1170-585: The discovery of Canada is as the first European to penetrate the continent, and more precisely the interior eastern region along the St. Lawrence River. His explorations consolidated France's claim of the territory that would later be colonized as New France , and his third voyage produced the first documented European attempt at settling North America since that of Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón in 1526–27. Cartier's professional abilities can be easily ascertained. Considering that Cartier made three voyages of exploration in dangerous and hitherto unknown waters without losing

1215-474: The discovery of new lands in the New World". On April 20, 1534, Cartier set sail under a commission from the king, hoping to discover a western passage to the wealthy markets of the East Indies. In the words of the commission, he was to "discover certain islands and lands where it is said that a great quantity of gold and other precious things are to be found". It took him twenty days to sail across

1260-463: The entrance to the St. Lawrence on his first voyage, he now opened up the greatest waterway for the European penetration of North America. He produced an intelligent estimate of the resources of Canada, both natural and human, albeit with a considerable exaggeration of its mineral wealth. While some of his actions toward the St. Lawrence Iroquoians were dishonourable, he did try at times to establish friendship with them and other native peoples living along

1305-469: The first time, and reached the Iroquoian capital of Stadacona , where Chief Donnacona ruled. Cartier claimed a land near St. Lawrence River in 1534; but France paid little attention to the colony for 60 years. Not until King Henry IV sent Samuel de Champlain in 1608 to New France as its governor and built a permanent settlement and a fur-trading post called Quebec . Cartier left his main ships in

1350-431: The northern part of the peninsula, contain the highest point of the peninsula, Mount Caubvick , which at 1,652 metres (5,420 ft) is also the highest point of mainland Canada east of Alberta . The mountains also host Torngat Mountains National Park , the only national park of Canada on the Labrador Peninsula. The park is located in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, whereas the adjacent Kuururjuaq National Park

1395-700: The ocean. Starting on May 10 of that year, he explored parts of Newfoundland , the Strait of Belle Isle and southern shore of the Labrador Peninsula , the Gaspé and North Shore coastlines on the Gulf of St. Lawrence , and some parts of the coasts of the Gulf's main islands, including Prince Edward Island , Anticosti Island and the Magdalen Islands . During one stop at Îles aux Oiseaux (Islands of

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1440-572: The peninsula. Other rivers of note include the Eastmain River , Rupert River , and Churchill River . Prior to European colonization, the peninsula was inhabited chiefly by Cree people, notably the Innu Nation in the southeast area of the peninsula, who referred to their country as Nitassinan (ᓂᑕᔅᓯᓇᓐ), meaning "our land" in the Innu language . Other peoples on the peninsula include

1485-463: The port on the north-east coast of Brittany . Cartier, who was a respectable mariner , improved his social status in 1520 by marrying Mary Catherine des Granches, member of a leading aristocratic family. His good name in Saint-Malo is recognized by its frequent appearance in baptismal registers as godfather or witness. In 1534, two years after the Duchy of Brittany was formally united with France in

1530-428: The region of Labrador , which is part of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador , and the regions of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean , Côte-Nord , and Nord-du-Québec , which are in the province of Quebec . It has an area of 1,400,000 km (541,000 sq mi). The peninsula is surrounded by sea on all sides, except for the southwest where it widens into the general continental mainland. The northwestern part of

1575-547: The shores of Gaspé Bay with a party of St. Lawrence Iroquoians , where on July 24 he planted a cross to claim the land for France. The 10-metre cross bearing the words "Long Live the King of France" claimed possession of the territory in the King's name. The change in mood was a clear indication that the Iroquoians understood Cartier's actions. Here he kidnapped the two sons of their chief, Donnacona . Cartier wrote that they later told him this region where they were captured (Gaspé)

1620-630: The site of present-day Cap-Rouge , Quebec. The convicts and other colonists were landed, the cattle that had survived three months aboard ship were turned loose, earth was broken for a kitchen garden, and seeds of cabbage, turnip, and lettuce were planted. A fortified settlement was thus created and was named Charlesbourg-Royal . Another fort was also built on the cliff overlooking the settlement, for added protection. The men also began collecting what they believed to be diamonds and gold, but which upon return to France were discovered to be merely quartz crystals and iron pyrites , respectively—which gave rise to

1665-508: The surrounding land and the river itself. And Cartier named Canadiens the inhabitants ( Iroquoians ) he had seen there. Thereafter the name Canada was used to designate the small French colony on these shores, and the French colonists were called Canadiens until the mid-nineteenth century, when the name started to be applied to the loyalist colonies on the Great Lakes and later to all of British North America . In this way Cartier

1710-598: The tip of the Great Northern Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador in the town of Quirpon , is said to have been named by Jacques Cartier himself on one of his voyages through the Strait of Belle Isle during the 1530s. The Banque Jacques-Cartier existed, and printed banknotes, between 1861 and 1899 in Lower Canada , then Quebec. It was folded into the Banque provinciale du Canada, and later still

1755-500: The town of Lachine, Quebec . After spending two days among the people of Hochelaga, Cartier returned to Stadacona on October 11. It is not known exactly when he decided to spend the winter of 1535–1536 in Stadacona, and it was by then too late to return to France. Cartier and his men prepared for the winter by strengthening their fort, stacking firewood, and salting down game and fish . From mid-November 1535 to mid-April 1536,

1800-606: Was a French- Breton maritime explorer for France . Jacques Cartier was the first European to describe and map the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the shores of the Saint Lawrence River , which he named "The Country of Canadas" after the Iroquoian names for the two big settlements he saw at Stadacona (Quebec City) and at Hochelaga (Montreal Island) . Jacques Cartier was born in 1491 in Saint-Malo ,

1845-787: Was abandoned in 1543 after disease, foul weather and hostile natives drove the would-be settlers to despair. Cartier spent the rest of his life in Saint-Malo and his nearby estate, where he often was useful as an interpreter in Portuguese. He died at age 65 on September 1, 1557, during an epidemic, possibly of typhus , though many sources list his cause of death as unknown. Cartier is interred in Saint-Malo Cathedral . No permanent European settlements were made in Canada before 1605, when Pierre Dugua , with Samuel Champlain , founded Port Royal in Acadia . Having already located

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1890-505: Was built at the confluence of the Rivière du Cap Rouge with the St. Lawrence River and is based on the discovery of burnt wooden timber remains that have been dated to the mid-16th century, and a fragment of a decorative Istoriato plate manufactured in Faenza , Italy, between 1540 and 1550, that could only have belonged to a member of the French aristocracy in the colony. Most probably this

1935-490: Was called by them Honguedo . The natives' chief at last agreed that they could be taken, under the condition that they return with European goods to trade. Cartier returned to France in September 1534, sure that he had reached an Asian land. Jacques Cartier set sail for a second voyage on May 19 of the following year with three ships, 110 men, and his two Iroquoian captives. Reaching the St. Lawrence, he sailed upriver for

1980-610: Was granted a patent by King Manuel I of Portugal in 1499 that gave him the right to explore that part of the Atlantic Ocean as set out in the Treaty of Tordesillas . Together with Pero de Barcelos , he first sighted Labrador in 1498, and charted the coasts of southwestern Greenland and of adjacent the northeastern North America around 1498 and gave notice of them in Portugal and Europe. His landowner status allowed him to use

2025-456: Was the Sieur de Roberval , who replaced Cartier as the leader of the settlement. This colony was the first known European settlement in modern-day Canada since the c. 1000 L'Anse aux Meadows Viking village in northern Newfoundland . Its rediscovery has been hailed by archaeologists as the most important find in Canada since the L'Anse aux Meadows rediscovery. Jacques Cartier Island, located on

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