Henry Hudson

Q: What are some of Henry Hudson's achievements?

Henry Hudson explored what is now known as the Hudson River, Hudson Bay, and Hudson Strait. He also laid the groundwork for the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam (New York). His voyages in the Arctic region in search of a northwest passage to the Far East extended maritime knowledge of the region and prepared the way for the whaling industry.

Q: What was Henry Hudson trying to achieve?

Henry Hudson captained four voyages of discovery - three for the English and one for the Dutch. He was attempting to find a polar sea route to the north of Arctic Russia or Canada that would help the English establish themselves in the lucrative silk and spice trade in the Far East.

Q: What happened to Henry Hudson?

History records that he perished in 1611 on his fourth and final voyage. In James Bay (Canada), after a harsh winter, his crew mutinied and cast adrift Hudson, his teenage son, John, and seven loyal crew members. They were never seen again.

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Definition

Henry Hudson (c. 1570-1611) was an English navigator and maritime explorer. He is known for his four voyages between 1607 and 1610 in search of a northwest passage via the Arctic Ocean to the Far East. The lure of a northwest passage became an obsession during the 16th century because it would bypass the Spanish and Portuguese-controlled southern waters.

More about: Henry Hudson

Timeline

c. 1570
English navigator & explorer Henry Hudson is most likely born in the town of Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire, northwest of London.
1607 - 1610
Henry Hudson captains four voyages searching for a northwest passage via the Arctic Ocean to the Far East.
1607 - 1610
Henry Hudson discovers the Hudson River and Hudson Bay and furthers the knowledge of the Arctic’s maritime geography.
22 Jun 1611
The crew of Dutch explorer Henry Hudson's ship, the Discovery, mutiny and set Hudson, his son, and six or seven others adrift in a small boat in Hudson Bay (in present-day Canada), either that same day or on the 23rd. The crew, starving and ill following a harsh winter, objected to their captain's plans to continue exploration. Hudson and the others were never seen or heard from again.
23 Jun 1611
Henry Hudson and his son, John, are cast adrift by a mutinous crew never to be seen again.