Jacques Cartier

Jacques Cartier (December 31, 1491 – September 1 1557), baptized Jakez Karter, was a French explorer who is popularly thought of as one of the major discoverers of Canada, or more specifically, the interior eastern region that would become the first European-inhabited area of that country.

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Born in Saint-Malo, France in 1491, Cartier was part of a respectable family of mariners and improved his social status in 1520 by marrying Catherine des Granches, member of a leading ship-owning family. His good name in Saint-Malo is recognized by its frequent appearance in baptismal registers as godfather or witness.

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No contemporary portrait of Jacques Cartier has been found and the most familiar portrait (see right) was painted by a Russian artist in 1839 for the city of Saint-Malo.

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Very little information is available on Cartier's character and personality but his professional abilities can be easily ascertained. Considering that Cartier made three voyages of discovery in dangerous and hitherto unknown waters without losing a ship, that he entered and departed some fifty undiscovered harbours without serious mishap and that the only sailors he lost were victims of an epidemic ashore, he may be considered one of the most conscientious explorers of the period.

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When Jacques Cartier first sailed to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Donnacona thought he was from underwater and said that he was coming from wooden "houses".

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December 31: December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. It is the final day of the Gregorian year....

1491: :This article is about the year 1491. For the book, see 1491 (book)....

September 1: September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). There are 121 days remaining....

Jacques Cartier related Images and Photos (experimental)

Jacques Cartier (1491-1557) Discovering the St. Lawrence River in 1535 1847	Jacques Cartier's Landing Place on the St Lawrence River in Quebec	Great Explorers - Jacques Cartier	Jacques Cartier Impresses the Native Canadians with His Cannon
Jacques Cartier Embraced by Donnacona a Native Canadian Huron Chief Gaspee Peninsula c.1535	Hattie Jacques	Hattie Jacques	Jacques Bernard de Molay
Jean-Jacques Rousseau	Jacques-Joseph Moreau de Tours	Jacques Louis David 1817	Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-78)