Jacques Cartier

French explorer Jacques Cartier, who is believed to have accompanied Giovanni da Verrazzano on an unofficial journey to the New World in 1524, was sent by King Frances I of France to explore North America in 1534.  Arriving in Newfoundland on April 20, he sailed on to the Magdalan Islands, discovered Prince Edward Island, traded with the Mi’kmaq at Chaleur Bay, and met with some 200 Iroquois at Gaspé Bay.  Returning to France with two sons of St. Lawrence Iroquois leader Chief Donnacona, Cartier then launched a three-ship expedition back to North America in 1535.  The second trip was marred by an outbreak of scurvy and deteriorating relations with the Iroquois.  Although a colonization mission launched in 1541 was unsuccessful, Cartier’s charting of the St. Lawrence River allowed the French to later occupy the interior of North America.