Jacques Cartier

1491-1557

Place of Birth:Saint-Malo, Brittany, France

Biography:

French navigator Jacques Cartier was born on December 31, 1491, in Saint-Malo, Brittany, France, and was sent by King Francis I to the New World in search of riches and a new route to Asia in 1534. His exploration of the St. Lawrence River allowed France to lay claim to lands that would become Canada. He died in Saint-Malo in 1557

Legacy:

French explorer Jacques Cartier is known chiefly for exploring the St. Lawrence River and giving Canada its name.