Jacques Cartier was a French explorer. He claimed what is now Canada for France. Jacques Cartier was the natural successor to Verrazzano.
Cartier’s orders for his first expedition were to search for a passage to the Pacific Ocean in the area around Newfoundland, and possibly, find precious metals.
He left Saint-Malo on 20th April 1534, and reached the coast of Newfoundland 20 days later. Jacques Cartier was the first European to map the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the shores of the Saint Lawrence River.
Cartier also is credited with accidently naming Canada. The name ‘Canada’ comes from ‘kanata’, the indigenous word for ‘village’ or ‘settlement’. The indigenous people used the word to describe the village of Stadacona, present-day Quebec City which Cartier misinterpreted. Thus, Canada got its present name.
During his second voyage, Jacques Cartier sailed up the Saint Lawrence River for the first time. The voyages by Cartier were undoubtedly great.