URPoint Details
Henry Hudson, born around 1560s/70s, London was an English sea-explorer and navigator in the early 17th century’
He explored the North American coast in 1609-10. In 1607 and 1608, Hudson made two attempts on behalf of English merchants to find a Northeast Passage to Cathay (present-day China) via a route above the Arctic Circle.
In 1609 he landed in North America and explored the region around the modern New York metropolitan area, looking for a Northwest Passage to Asia on behalf of the Dutch East India Company. He sailed up the Hudson River, which was later named for him, and thereby laid the foundation for Dutch colonization of the region.
Hudson discovered the Hudson Strait and the immense Hudson Bay on his final expedition, while still searching for the Northwest Passage In 1611, after wintering on the shore of James Bay, Hudson wanted to press on to the west, but most of his crew mutinied. The mutineers cast Hudson, his son, and seven others adrift; the Hudsons and their companions were never seen again.
He died in Hudson Bay in 1611
- Type:
- Famous Locals