12 Jacques Cartier Facts for Kids

Jacques Cartier was a French explorer who was famous for exploring areas in what is now modern day Canada. This explorer embarked on three journeys in his lifetime to try and find a land full of gold, jewels, and other treasurers. There is lot to learn about this early explorer. Here, we will tell you more about Jacques Cartier, his voyages, and his discoveries:

1. On December 31, 1491, Cartier was born in Saint-Malo, a town located in Brittany, France. He would also die there in 1557.

2. Dieppe was the city where Cartier received his training on navigation.

3. Cartier was actually a skilled navigator, not so much a commissioned explorer. He was so good, however, that he was commissioned to help parties exploring the New World.

4. In 1524, Cartier was sent on a journey to explore the new world with French explorer Giovanni de Verrazzano. It was not until 3 years later when he would return to France.

5. Around 1534, Cartier set out on his first solo expedition journey. During this journey, he began to explore the St. Lawrence River in Canada and claimed parts of Canada on behalf of the French. This journey was meant to be one where Cartier looked for gold and riches on behalf of the French crown.

6. Just a year later (1535) Cartier went on his second expedition. In addition to riches, he was also looking for a passage through the continent to Asia.

7. This expedition saw Cartier explore more of the area around Mount Royal, the St. Lawrence Bay and St. Lawrence River. They also explored the area where modern day Quebec is located.

8. During the second expedition, Cartier and his group tried to stay in the Quebec area for the winter. They made friends with the local Iroquois tribe during this time and even returned to France in the spring with a few of them.

9. The Iroquois told the French king, King Francis, stories of a city full of treasures in the area.

10. Cartier then headed up another journey to establish a permanent colony. He thought he found gold and diamonds and promptly abandoned the settlement and settlers to go back to France. However, his treasures were not real. Cartier’s expeditions would not be funded anymore.

11. During this third journey, the local natives also turned on the French potential settlers.

12. It was around 50 years until France would again explore this area of the New World.