The 1600-1800s were times of exploration, with Spain, England, France, Portugal, and the Netherlands (called Holland back then, which is much nicer) all trying to colonize as much land as possible. France was later to the game then the other countries, England first putting a claim on Jamestown, North America in 1499, but it still got a considerable parcel of land.
Jacques Cartier was born in 1491, and became a mariner, sailing to the Caribbean to trade with the mostly Spanish ports there. In 1520 he married into a high aristocratic family, and was able to meet the king through this new position.
In 1534 the king commissioned him to find a passage through North America to the wealthy spice markets in Asia, not being able to go through Europe since Portugal and Holland guarded their routes well. Cartier set out with two ships and 61 men, making for Canada. He found many islands, including Prince Edward Island, Anticosti Island, the Magdalen Islands, and the Islands of the Birds.
He had several encounters with the natives, with limited trade occurring in the first few meetings, but the next meeting in Gaspe Bay resulted in Cartier claiming a huge part of their land and kidnapping two of the chiefs sons, so we can guess negotiations didn’t go well. However, the chief was assured they’d be returned when they got more European goods to trade. Cartier then returned to France later in 1534, under the belief he had found and (partly successfully) traded with Asians in Asia.
He then returned in 1535 with 3 ships and 110 men, including the captives. Things then went smoothly, the natives know trusting the French completely. Jacques then found the St. Lawrence River, believing it could bring him to Asia, having been told Canada was not China in France. They then lived with the natives until 1536, and Cartier heard stories about a land of gold in the north.
He told the king about these stories, but the king told him to instead help colonialists set up a colony in 1541. Cartier helped them get to Canada but when they started setting up the town Jacques decided to leave them and search for the treasure he had heard about. He found the treasure, and immediately went home to France to show the king. Upon arriving it was revealed, however, that the treasure was Pyrite, also known as Fool’s Gold, or Fake Gold. So Cartier’s reputation went up in flames, having disobeyed the king to look for gold, and not even finding good gold. The colony likewise failed, having no support from the ship or crew. It would take 44 years for the colony to be rebuilt, and made into Quebec City.
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