Henry Hudson: Explorer of North America’s Rivers
Henry Hudson (c. 1565 – disappeared 23 June 1611) was an English sea explorer and navigator during the early 17th century. He is best known for his explorations of present-day Canada and the Northeastern United States, particularly his discovery of the Hudson River and Hudson Bay.
Early Life and Education
Virtually nothing of Hudson’s early life is known for certain. His year of birth is variously estimated between 1560 and 1570. He may have been born in London, and it is possible that his father was an alderman of that city. When Hudson first entered the historical record in 1607, he was already an experienced mariner with sufficient credentials to lead an expedition in search of a trade route across the North Pole.
Career and Achievements
In 1607, the Muscovy Company of England hired Hudson to find a northerly route to the Pacific coast of Asia. On 1 May 1607, Hudson sailed with a crew of ten men and a boy aboard the 80-ton Hopewell. The expedition reached the east coast of Greenland on 13 May and coasted northward, naming geographical features including “Young’s Cape,” “Mount of God’s Mercy,” and “Hold with Hope.” On 27 May, they sighted Spitsbergen near the mouth of what Hudson named the “Great Indraught.” By 16 July, they had reached Hakluyt’s Headland at approximately 79° 49′ N before ice forced them to turn back. The expedition returned to Tilbury Hope on 15 September.
In 1608, English merchants again sent Hudson in the Hopewell to locate a passage to the Indies, this time around northern Russia. Leaving London on 22 April, the ship travelled almost 2,500 miles, reaching Novaya Zemlya well above the Arctic Circle in July. Finding the ice impenetrable even in summer, they turned back and arrived at Gravesend on 26 August.
In 1609, Hudson was chosen by merchants of the Dutch East India Company and sailed to North America on his ship Halve Maen (“Half Moon”). He explored the region around the modern New York metropolitan area and sailed up the Mahicannittuk, later named the Hudson River. This voyage laid the foundation for Dutch colonization of the region and established European contact with the native peoples of North America.
On his final expedition, Hudson became the first European to see Hudson Strait and Hudson Bay while searching for the Northwest Passage. In 1611, after wintering on the shore of James Bay, Hudson wanted to press on westward, but most of his crew mutinied. The mutineers cast Hudson, his son, and six others adrift. What happened to them afterward remains unknown.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hudson’s 1607 voyage produced reports of large numbers of whales in Spitsbergen waters, though the extent of his influence on the subsequent whaling industry remains disputed by historians. His exploration of the Hudson River in 1609 proved significant for establishing European presence in North America and opening the region to trade and commerce. The discovery of Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait during his final voyage marked major geographical achievements, though they came at the cost of his life and those of his companions.
Additional Resources
Hudson’s life and voyages are documented in historical records and journals from the early 17th century. Readers seeking more detailed information about his expeditions, the ships he commanded, and the geographical discoveries he made can find extensive material in biographical archives and historical accounts of early European exploration in North America.
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