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| In 1610 Hudson manages to get backing for yet another voyage under the English flag, this time the funding comes from the Virginia Company, and the English East India Company. At the helm of his new ship, the ''Discovery'' he stayed to the north (some claim he deliberately went too far south with the Dutch), reaching Iceland on May 11, the southern end of Greenland on June 4th, and then managing to turn around the southern tip and continue west. | In 1610 Hudson manages to get backing for yet another voyage under the English flag, this time the funding comes from the Virginia Company, and the English East India Company. At the helm of his new ship, the ''Discovery'' he stayed to the north (some claim he deliberately went too far south with the Dutch), reaching Iceland on May 11, the southern end of Greenland on June 4th, and then managing to turn around the southern tip and continue west. | ||
| Excitement was high that a ship had finally found the Northwest Passage, and on June 25th they reached ] at the northern tip of ]. Following the southern coast the sail into ] and spend the next months continuing to map and explore. In November the ship becomes trapped in the ice in ], and the crew moves onshore for the winter. | Excitement was high that a ship had finally found the Northwest Passage, and on June 25th they reached ] at the northern tip of ]. Following the southern coast the sail into ] and spend the next months continuing to map and explore. In November the ship becomes trapped in the ice in ], and the crew moves onshore for the winter. | ||
| When the ice cleared in the spring of 1611 Hudson wanted to continue exploring, but the crew wanted to return home. Eventually matters came to a head and the crew mutinies, setting Hudson, his son, and several other crew adrift in a small boat. They were never seen again. | When the ice cleared in the spring of 1611 Hudson wanted to continue exploring, but the crew wanted to return home. Eventually matters came to a head and the crew mutinies, setting Hudson, his son, and several other crew adrift in a small boat. They were never seen again. | ||
Revision as of 11:30, 21 June 2002
Henry Hudson (place and date of birth are unknown, but September 12, 1570 seems likely) was an English sea explorer and navigator.
In 1607, Hudson set sail on the Hopewell to find a northeast passage to Asia through the Arctic Ocean via the North Pole. The voyage was paid for by the Moscovy Company, one of a small number of monopoly companies. In June he reached the eastern shore of Greenland and started northward, mapping as they went. On the 20th they started out for Svalbard (now known as Spitzbergen), eventually reaching an island on the northern end of the group on the 17th of July. At this point the ship is only 577 nautical miles from the pole, but it is clear there is no way to go further due to the ice and he decides to return to England on the 31st. On the return voyage he discovers what is now known as Jan Mayen Island before reaching home in September.
Next year he tried again, this time sailing farther to the east along the northern coast of Norway. Once again all northern routes were blocked and he ended up reaching Novaya Zelmya before turning back. This point had been reached by several crews in the past and was considered the end of the line, which convinced the Moscovy Company that there was no point funding further voyages.
At this point Hudson wanted to continue his explorations and turned to the Dutch East India Company for funding. They were particularily interested in shorter routes to the east, and commissioned a new ship for his use, the Half Moon. The ship initially heads north in May, but they can't even get as far as Novaya Zelmya and turn back. Instead they head west and eventually reach the Grand Banks off Newfoundland in early July. They spend the next four months exploring the west coast of North America, including the discovery of Manhatten, Maine, Cape Cod and sailing a distance up the Hudson River which bears his name. The Dutch would later claim the area and set up a colony as New Amsterdam. Upon return to Europe in November they set in at Dartmouth, where Hudson is arrested for sailing under another country's flag.
In 1610 Hudson manages to get backing for yet another voyage under the English flag, this time the funding comes from the Virginia Company, and the English East India Company. At the helm of his new ship, the Discovery he stayed to the north (some claim he deliberately went too far south with the Dutch), reaching Iceland on May 11, the southern end of Greenland on June 4th, and then managing to turn around the southern tip and continue west.
Excitement was high that a ship had finally found the Northwest Passage, and on June 25th they reached Hudson Strait at the northern tip of Labrador. Following the southern coast the sail into Hudson Bay and spend the next months continuing to map and explore. In November the ship becomes trapped in the ice in James Bay, and the crew moves onshore for the winter.
When the ice cleared in the spring of 1611 Hudson wanted to continue exploring, but the crew wanted to return home. Eventually matters came to a head and the crew mutinies, setting Hudson, his son, and several other crew adrift in a small boat. They were never seen again.
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