HUDSON, HENRY, a distinguished navigator. His early history is unknown. He undertook his first voyage for the discovery of a n.e. passage in 1607, in a small vessel with ten sailors, but failed in this attempt. In his second voyage, in 1608, he reached Nova Zembla. He undertook a third voyage in 1609 from Amsterdam, at the expense of the Dutch East India company. Giving up all hope of finding a n.e. passage, he sailed for Davis's strait, but came upon the American continent about 44° n. lat., and steering southwards, discovered the mouth of the river which now bears his name. He sailed upon his last voyage in April, 1610, with 23 sailors, and reached Greenland in June. Steering westward, he discovered the strait now known as Hudson's strait, and, passed through it and entered the great bay which has received the name of Hudson's bay. Although very insufficiently supplied with provisions, he adopted the resolution of wintering in these desolate regions in order to prosecute his .discoveries further in
the following spring. He proceeded to carry this design into execution, but his provi sions became so much exhausted that he was under the necessity of returning. An incautious utterance of his opinion, that in the destitute condition to which he was reduced he would be obliged to leave some of his people behind, led to his death. The sailors mutinied and placed him, with his son and some others who adhered to him, in a small boat, at the mercy of the waves and of the savages. His fate was revealed by one of the conspirators. An expedition was sent from England in quest of him, but DO trace of him or of his companions in misfortune was ever discovered.