Henry Hudson and the Search for the Northwest Passage

In 1610 Henry Hudson, a renowned English navigator, commenced his second voyage in search of a northwest route to China. With great daring and resolution he navigated the treacherous waters of Hudson Strait and descended into Hudson Bay. Believed to be the first European to explore this vast inland sea, Hudson laid the basis for English claims to much of present day Canada. His accomplishments were marred, however, by discord on the voyage. Having prolonged his futile search for the Pacific Ocean, Hudson was forced to spend a bleak winter in James Bay. When discontent among the men erupted into mutiny on the homeward journey the following spring, he and eight others were cast adrift in a small open boat and left to an unknown fate.

En 1610, Henry Hudson, navigateur anglais repute, part pour la seconde fois a la rechere d’un passage, au nord-ouest, vers la Chine. Avec courage, il traverse resolument les eaux traitresses du detroit, qui porte maintenant son nom et atteint la baie d’Hudson, aussi nommee en son honneur. Considere comme le premier Europeen a avoir explore cette vaste mer interieure, Hudson y jette la base des pretentions anglaises a une grande partie du Canada d’aujourd-hui. La discorde ternit cependant son exploit. Ayant cherche en vain le passage vers le Pacifique, il est contraint printempts suivant, ses hommes se mutient et abandonnent dans une barque, a un sort inconnu, avec huit compagnons.