What did the Hudson Henry discover? Researcher's Biography

Henry Hudson, whose biography and discoveries are the subject of this review, was a famous English navigator and discoverer of the 16th and 17th centuries. He made a great contribution to the development of geographical science, studied and described the Arctic Ocean, as well as new straits, bays, rivers and islands. Therefore, his name is named a number of objects on the territory of the North American continent and some water spaces.

General characteristics of the era

Travel of the captain should be considered in the context of the era. He did his research in the years when Queen Elizabeth I was sitting on the throne, whose reign was marked by the rapid development of English navigation and trade. She encouraged the enterprisingness of maritime companies, as well as private initiatives of seafarers. It was in the years of her reign that his famous world tour was carried out by F. Drake. The Queen's Treasury was enriched by maritime commerce, so many British companies initiated a study of water spaces in order to find better ways of communicating with other continents and countries.

Some information about the person

Hudson Henry was born in 1570, and many researchers believe that the family is a sailor. About the early years of the future explorer, almost nothing is known. It is believed that he spent his youth by the sea, studying sea business, became a cabin boy, and later rose to the rank of captain. The news has been preserved that the journey of D. Davis was organized in the house of a certain D. Hudson, who probably was a relative of the future discoverer. Consequently, the Hudson Henry was an experienced sailor and, before the start of his famous voyages, managed to acquire the glory of a talented navigator.

First trip

The English "Moskovitskaya Kompaniya" was interested in finding northeastern routes for trade, bypassing the Spanish and Portuguese possessions. In 1607, an expedition was organized to search for the northern route to Asian countries. The command was to carry out the Hudson Henry. At his disposal was only one ship with a small team.

After going to sea, he sent the ship in the north-west direction, until he reached the Greenland coast. On the way, the seafarer made a map of this region. He reached Spitsbergen and approached the North Pole rather closely. As further travel was impossible due to the fact that the ice prevented the advance of ships, Hudson Henry ordered his return to his homeland. Here he spoke about the possibilities of whaling in the northern seas, which contributed to the development of this industry in the country.

The Second Journey

The following year the captain carried out a new expedition with the same purpose as before: try to find the sea route to China and India through the north-east or north-west. The traveler wanted to find a space free of ice, and during the search fell into the sea between Novaya Zemlya and Spitsbergen. However, Hudson could not find a free passage here, and therefore turned to the north-east. But here again he was again in for a failure: the ice again blocked his way, the captain was forced to return to his homeland.

The Third Journey

In 1609, the navigator embarked on a new voyage, but now under the Dutch flag. This country was a rival and successful rival of the British Crown in the development of new lands and the founding of colonies. Hudson could in his own discretion choose the direction of navigation. He sailed to the Barents Sea and was caught unawares by bad weather. The expedition found itself in extremely difficult conditions: the cold came, and a grumbling began among the team, threatening to turn into a riot. Then the pioneer suggested sailing in the direction of the Davis Channel or heading for the North American coast.

The second option was chosen, and the ships headed north-west in search of the shore, which Henry Hudson counted on. North America was investigated in sufficient detail: it approached the lands of modern states, entered the bay and swam along the big river, which now bears his name. These were very important discoveries, but the captain made sure that he did not reach the goal of his journey, and the found path does not lead to China.

It is interesting that at the same time the French explorer and traveler Champlain also explored these places for the same purpose: to find a waterway to China. He managed to get to the same place as the Hudson, but only on the other hand, they were separated only one hundred and fifty kilometers.

Meanwhile, on board the English ship again began the unrest, and the traveler was forced to return. On the way he went to the English port, where he was arrested along with other compatriots: after all, according to the laws of the country, they had to swim only under the flag of the kingdom. Soon they were released, and in the following year, 1610, a new expedition was organized.

Fourth journey

This time Henry Hudson, whose discoveries played an important role in the development of geographical research, was hired by the British East India Company. He again went north, sailed to the Icelandic and Greenland shores, and then entered the strait, which now bears his name. Moving along the Labrador coast, the ship of travelers entered the bay, which was also named in his honor.

The next few months the seafarer was engaged in mapping the American coast, and in winter the expedition was forced to go ashore for the winter. When the ice came down, the captain decided to continue research, but the ship began a riot: he, along with his son and seven sailors, were dropped off on a boat without food and water. About his future fate is unknown, most likely, he died.

Value

Great contribution to the discovery of land and the development of geographical science made Henry Hudson. What the sailor discovered, we considered above. His opening was filled with many white spots on the maps of the time under consideration. The bay, which he discovered, is several times larger than the Baltic Sea. Described by him the coast subsequently became a profitable place for trade in fur, which for a long time led the company. Hudson Strait is a convenient outlet to the Arctic waters from the Atlantic Ocean. Many geographical objects bear the name of the traveler, including the river, the district, the city.

He became one of the most outstanding pioneers of his time Henry Hudson. Photos, as well as maps of the continents confirm that the seafarer has immortalized his name. Unfortunately, he, like many other travelers of the time, did not immediately receive recognition. The navigator did not have the opportunity to travel on several ships, he was given one or two ships. Nevertheless, his contribution to geographical science can not be overemphasized. Due to it, hard-to-find areas of the northern seas and coasts were described.