CARTIER, Jacques, French navigator: b. Saint Malo, 31 Dec. 1491; d. 1 Sept. 1557. After gaining some experience in fishing-fleets off the Labrador coast, he commanded an expedition to North America in 1534, entering the Strait of Belle Isle and sailed down the whole west coast of Newfoundland. He discovered Magdalen and Piince Edward Islands which he took for the main shore. He decided to wait before exploring further, and returned to Saint Malo. In 1536, he set sail again and, passing through the Strait of Belle Isle, anchored on the 9th of August in Pillage Bay. He named this the Saint Lawrence, and the name was gradually given to the entire river. In the same year he took possession of the mainland of Canada ill the name of Francis I. The next year he sailed up the Saint Lawrence as far as the present Montreal. In 1541 he went out as captain-general in command of a first detach ment of ships to prepare the way for Roberval, who had been named viceroy. Finding, how
ever, that his chief did not arrive, after he had waited some time, he returned to Saint Malo. The natives usually received him well, but when about to return from his second voyage he treacherously kidnapped Donnaconna, one of the chiefs, and some others, in order to show them in his native country. In 1544 he set out to bring Roberval back. From this time until his death he gave technical advice in nautical matters and acted as Portuguese interpreter. His book,