# 1131 - 1959 4c St. Lawrence Seaway
Cartier Explores St. Lawrence River
Cartier was born on December 31, 1491, in Saint-Malo, Brittany, France. In 1534, the bishop of Saint-Malo introduced Cartier to King Francis I and recommended him for a commission to search for a northwest passage to Asia. The bishop claimed Cartier had previously journeyed to Newfoundland and Brazil, exhibiting his ability to “lead ships to the discovery of new lands in the New World.”
During this trip, Cartier had three encounters with Native Americans. During one of these encounters, he took two sons of a tribe’s chief to bring back to France, promising to bring them back when he returned on another voyage. Upon returning to France, Cartier’s tales of fertile lands, which were previously thought to be barren, excited the king. He ordered Cartier to take a second voyage.
US and Canada joint-issues honoring the St. Lawrence Seaway. |
On this journey, Cartier was no longer looking for a passage to Asia. Instead, he was to find the legendary Kingdom of Saguenay and create a settlement on the St. Lawrence River. He established that settlement at present-day Cap-Rouge, Quebec and found what he thought were diamonds, but were quartz crystals and iron pyrites. The settlement ultimately failed due to illness and conflicts with the natives and Cartier returned to France in June 1542. He died there in 1557. As the years went on, the St. Lawrence River would become one of the most important trade waterways in North America.
Cartier Explores St. Lawrence River
Cartier was born on December 31, 1491, in Saint-Malo, Brittany, France. In 1534, the bishop of Saint-Malo introduced Cartier to King Francis I and recommended him for a commission to search for a northwest passage to Asia. The bishop claimed Cartier had previously journeyed to Newfoundland and Brazil, exhibiting his ability to “lead ships to the discovery of new lands in the New World.”
During this trip, Cartier had three encounters with Native Americans. During one of these encounters, he took two sons of a tribe’s chief to bring back to France, promising to bring them back when he returned on another voyage. Upon returning to France, Cartier’s tales of fertile lands, which were previously thought to be barren, excited the king. He ordered Cartier to take a second voyage.
US and Canada joint-issues honoring the St. Lawrence Seaway. |
On this journey, Cartier was no longer looking for a passage to Asia. Instead, he was to find the legendary Kingdom of Saguenay and create a settlement on the St. Lawrence River. He established that settlement at present-day Cap-Rouge, Quebec and found what he thought were diamonds, but were quartz crystals and iron pyrites. The settlement ultimately failed due to illness and conflicts with the natives and Cartier returned to France in June 1542. He died there in 1557. As the years went on, the St. Lawrence River would become one of the most important trade waterways in North America.