Jacques Cartier, born on 31 December 1491 in Saint-Malo, Brittany, was a French maritime explorer. He was the first European to describe and map the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the Saint Lawrence River, naming the region 'The Country of Canadas' after the Iroquoian term for the two large settlements he encountered at Stadacona (present-day Quebec City) and Hochelaga (Montreal Island). Cartier's voyages provided the first European accounts of this territory and its inhabitants during a time when Spain was expanding its influence in the Americas.Cartier's early life included a respectable career as a mariner, and he elevated his social standing by marrying Mary Catherine des Granches in 1520. His reputation in Saint-Malo was notable, as evidenced by his frequent appearances in local baptismal records.In 1534, Cartier was introduced to King Francis I by Jean Le Veneur, the bishop of Saint-Malo. Following this introduction, Cartier received a commission to explore the New World, aiming to find a western passage to the East Indies. He set sail on 20 April 1534, reaching Newfoundland and exploring the Gulf of St. Lawrence, including the coasts of Labrador and Gaspé. During this voyage, he encountered the Mi'kmaq and later the St. Lawrence Iroquoians, claiming the land for France by planting a cross at Gaspé Bay on 24 July. He kidnapped two sons of the Iroquoian chief Donnacona, intending to bring them back to France for trade purposes. Cartier returned to France in September 1534, believing he had reached Asia.Cartier embarked on a second voyage on 19 May 1535, this time with three ships and 110 men, including his Iroquoian captives. He navigated the St. Lawrence River, reaching Stadacona and then Hochelaga by 2 October 1535. The latter settlement was more impressive than Stadacona, with a large population welcoming the French. Cartier believed the river could lead to the Northwest Passage, naming the rapids La Chine. He and his crew spent the winter of 1535-1536 in Stadacona, where they faced severe conditions, including scurvy. A remedy provided by the Iroquoians helped them survive. Cartier returned to France on 15 July 1536, having completed a 14-month voyage.On 23 May 1541, Cartier began his third voyage, tasked with establishing a permanent settlement in Canada. He anchored at Stadacona but chose to settle at Cap-Rouge, where he established Charlesbourg-Royal. The expedition aimed to find the fabled 'Kingdom of Saguenay' and its riches. However, relations with the Iroquoians deteriorated, leading to attacks on the settlement. Cartier left for France in June 1542, encountering Jean-François de La Rocque de Roberval, who had been appointed to lead the colonization effort. Cartier returned to France, believing he had discovered valuable minerals, but these were later identified as quartz and iron pyrites.Cartier spent his later years in Saint-Malo, where he died on 1 September 1557, possibly from typhus. He was buried in Saint-Malo Cathedral. His explorations opened the St. Lawrence River to European penetration and laid the groundwork for future French claims in North America. Cartier's voyages were significant in documenting the name Canada, derived from the Huron-Iroquois word for village, which he used to describe the territory he explored. His contributions to the exploration of Canada were pivotal, marking the first European penetration into the continent's interior along the St. Lawrence River.