Jacques Cartier

NAME Jacques Cartier

WHAT FAMOUS FOR French explorer who led three voyages to North America in search of the Northwest Passage, claiming much of eastern Canada for France.

BIRTH Jacques Cartier was born on December 31, 1491, in Saint-Malo, a port town in Brittany, France.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Cartier was born into a family of mariners, which greatly influenced his future as an explorer. His father, Jamet Cartier, and mother, Geseline Jansart, were part of the seafaring community in Saint-Malo, where Jacques learned the skills that would later define his career.

CHILDHOOD Cartier grew up in Saint-Malo, a bustling maritime center. His childhood was likely spent near the docks, where he developed a fascination with the sea. From a young age, he was exposed to tales of exploration and trade, fueling his desire to embark on voyages.

EDUCATION While there are few records of Cartier’s formal education, it is believed he received training in navigation and seamanship, either through apprenticeship or informal learning in Saint-Malo. His skills in mapmaking and navigation were crucial to his later explorations.

CAREER RECORD Here's Cartier's resume;

Began as a sailor, gaining experience in maritime trade.

Commissioned by King Francis I to explore North America in search of the Northwest Passage.

Led three voyages between 1534 and 1541, exploring the St. Lawrence River and parts of present-day Canada.

Claimed much of eastern Canada for France.

APPEARANCE Jacques Cartier was described as a robust and determined man, typical of explorers of his time. His exact appearance is not well-documented, but he was likely rugged from years at sea, with the weathered look of a seasoned mariner.

Portrait of Jacques Cartier by Théophile Hamel, ca. 1844. 

FASHION Cartier’s attire would have reflected the practical needs of a 16th-century explorer, consisting of durable and warm clothing suitable for long voyages in harsh conditions. He would have worn heavy woolen garments, leather boots, and a hat to protect against the elements.

CHARACTER Cartier was known for his tenacity, courage, and ambition. He was a skilled navigator and leader, capable of managing the challenges of exploration and maintaining the morale of his crew. His ability to interact with Indigenous peoples and learn from them was crucial to his success.

SENSE OF HUMOUR His interactions with the Indigenous peoples and his crew suggest Cartier  had the diplomatic tact and social skills necessary for an explorer dealing with diverse cultures and challenging situations.

RELATIONSHIPS Jacques Cartier's marriage to Mary Catherine des Granches in 1520 was a strategic move that significantly elevated his social standing.  While he was already a respected mariner from a respectable family, by marrying Catherine, Cartier gained access to the higher echelons of Saint-Malo society. This newfound social standing would prove invaluable in his future endeavors.

 It was a marriage of convenience and ambition and they had no children.

MONEY AND FAME Cartier gained considerable fame in France for his explorations, though he did not amass great wealth. His voyages were financed by the French crown, and while he was rewarded for his services, his primary legacy is his contribution to France’s territorial claims in the New World.

FOOD AND DRINK During his expeditions, Cartier and his crew subsisted on the provisions they brought with them, including salted meat, hardtack, and other preserved foods. Cartier is noted for his interaction with Indigenous peoples, who taught him how to treat scurvy with a concoction made from pine needles, a vital discovery that saved many of his men.

MUSIC AND ARTS As a man of his time, Cartier would have been familiar with the liturgical music and folk songs of Brittany and France.

LITERATURE Cartier kept detailed journals of his voyages, which are among the most important early European records of North America. His writings provide valuable insights into the geography, cultures, and natural resources of the regions he explored.

NATURE Cartier had a deep connection with nature, as his explorations brought him into contact with the diverse landscapes of North America. His ability to navigate rivers and coastlines, as well as his interactions with the natural world, were crucial to his success as an explorer.

PETS Animals such as dogs were commonly brought on ships during long voyages.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS As a mariner and explorer, Cartier’s primary interests lay in navigation and exploration. His “hobbies” were likely focused on activities that prepared him for his voyages, such as studying maps and maritime techniques.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Cartier was skilled in the science of navigation, which involved mathematics, astronomy, and geography. His ability to chart unknown territories and navigate the seas was key to his achievements.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Cartier was a Catholic, and his voyages were undertaken in the name of both the French crown and the Church. His actions, such as planting the cross on the Gaspé Peninsula, reflect the intertwining of exploration and the spread of Christianity during his time.

POLITICS Cartier’s expeditions were deeply political, as they were commissioned by the French crown with the goal of expanding France’s influence and territory. His voyages were a key part of France’s efforts to compete with other European powers in the New World.

SCANDAL Cartier’s later expeditions were less successful, and his attempts to establish a permanent colony in Canada were fraught with difficulties, including conflict with Indigenous peoples and harsh winters. These challenges led to the abandonment of the colony, and while not a scandal, it marked a downturn in his career.

MILITARY RECORD While Cartier was not a soldier, his expeditions involved elements of military leadership, particularly in maintaining order among his crew and defending against potential threats during his voyages.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Cartier’s survival of multiple long and perilous voyages suggests that he was in good physical condition. He faced many health challenges, including scurvy, which he overcame with the help of Indigenous knowledge.

HOMES Cartier’s primary residence was in Saint-Malo, Brittany. After his voyages, he returned to this port town, where he lived out the remainder of his life.

TRAVEL Cartier led three major expeditions to North America between 1534 and 1542. On these voyages, he had the distinct honor of being the first European to lay eyes on Prince Edward Island, the St. Lawrence River, and Hochelaga.

In 1534, while the European powers were racing to carve up the New World like a particularly profitable turkey, King Francis I of France decided it was time for his nation to get in on the action. He dispatched Cartier, a seasoned sailor from Saint-Malo where everyone seemed to know a thing or two about crossing the Atlantic in search of fish, furs, or fortune. Cartier dutifully set sail, and before long, he was poking around Newfoundland and exploring the rugged coastline of Labrador.

On July 24, 1534, Cartier planted a ten-meter cross on Canada's Gaspé Peninsula. This imposing symbol, inscribed with "Long Live the King of France," marked the territory as a possession of Francis I. The symbolic declaration that these lands now belonged to France, must have bemused the watching First Nations.

The name "Canada" itself has Indigenous roots. Derived from the Huron-Iroquois word "kanata," meaning "village" or "settlement," the term was introduced to Cartier in 1535. Encountering the St. Lawrence Iroquoians, he inquired about the land they inhabited. Their response, "kanata," was recorded in his journal. Cartier subsequently adopted the word to describe the region, a name that would eventually encompass the entire country.

On October 2, 1535, Cartier and men arrived by boat in Hochelaga—a bustling Indigenous settlement that we now know as Montreal. Here, he encountered the Wendats, or as they were more commonly known in the parlance of the time, the Huron, an Iroquoian-speaking people. Cartier’s arrival on these shores marked the beginning of a new, and not always friendly, relationship between Europeans and the First Nations of the region.

Cartier’s first trip was not without its dramatic moments. In a somewhat audacious move, he took two of the Wendats chief Donnacona’s sons back to France with them. Cartier returned them on his second voyage, but not before pulling an even more audacious move—he captured Donnacona himself and took him back to France. The chief, perhaps unsurprisingly, didn’t take well to this new environment and eventually died there.

By the time of his third trip, Cartier wasn’t just exploring anymore; he was leading an attempt to establish a French colony on Wendat land. Unfortunately, the Wendats, who had been relatively accommodating on his previous visits, were no longer in the mood for French guests setting up camp on their territory. After enduring a series of challenges, Cartier and his would-be colonists packed up and headed back to France, leaving behind their dreams of a New France in the New World.

Cartier’s voyages, despite their ups and downs, laid the groundwork for France’s claim to much of Eastern Canada. He may not have found gold or a passage to Asia, but he did manage to set the stage for France’s future as a colonial power in North America—a legacy that would echo down the centuries.

DEATH Jacques Cartier died on September 1, 1557, in Saint-Malo, France. He was 65 years old. His death marked the end of a significant chapter in the history of European exploration of the Americas.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA The life and expeditions of Jacques Cartier have been depicted in books, documentaries, television programs, and other cultural works that explore the Age of Discovery and the early history of Canada.

Biographies and Historical Accounts: Numerous books have been written about Jacques Cartier, detailing his voyages and their impact on the history of Canada and French exploration. These works often provide in-depth analyses of his expeditions, interactions with Indigenous peoples, and contributions to the mapping of North America. Notable titles include Jacques Cartier: Exploring the St. Lawrence River by David Aretha and Jacques Cartier and the Exploration of Canada by Patricia I. Lethbridge.

Television Documentaries: Jacques Cartier’s voyages have been the subject of various television documentaries that explore the broader history of exploration. For instance, Canadian broadcasters like CBC and the History Channel have produced programs that focus on the Age of Discovery, featuring Cartier as a central figure in the narrative of European exploration in North America.

Historical Dramas and Series: While not as widely featured in fictionalized television dramas as some other explorers, Cartier has appeared in historical reenactments and series that portray the early exploration of North America. His encounters with Indigenous peoples, his planting of the cross on the Gaspé Peninsula, and his discovery of the St. Lawrence River are often highlighted.

Films: While there are no major Hollywood films solely focused on Cartier, his character has appeared in films that deal with the broader themes of exploration and colonization. These portrayals typically emphasize his role as a pioneer in the European exploration of North America.

Museum Exhibitions: Cartier’s voyages are featured in Canadian museums, particularly those focused on maritime history and the history of New France. Museums such as the Musée de la civilisation in Quebec City and the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec, often include exhibits that showcase Cartier’s expeditions, using artifacts, maps, and interactive displays.

ACHIEVEMENTS Explored and mapped a significant portion of the St. Lawrence River and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Claimed much of eastern Canada for France, laying the foundation for French colonization.

Contributed to European knowledge of North America through his detailed journals.