English navigator and explorer.

Arctic, Spitsbergen, Greenland (1607): Sent by the Muscovy Company to find a route to China by sailing due north. At this time no one knew that ice covered the polar region, believing that the Arctic ice was merely a narrow strip with warmer waters to the north warmed by the midnight sun. Left Gravesend on 1.5.1607 in the Hopewell. Reached Greenland on 13.5.1607, exploring and naming the coast north. Arrived at present-day Spitsbergen on 27.5.1607. HUDSON sailed to the north of Spitsbergen reaching the 80^th parallel (being further north than anyone had been before). Convinced himself that only an impenetrable wall of ice lay ahead, turning back and returning to England on 15.9.1607.

Arctic, Eastern North America (1609): Sailing for the Dutch East India Company, left Texel on 6.4.1609 with the ship Half Moon, again sailing north, this time by way of the Barents Sea. To avoid a mutiny in the ice, turned about to look for a passage to the North West. Entered New York harbour on 3.9.1609, believing that it may be a passage to the South Seas. Sailed up the river that now bears his name, the Hudson River, as far as the current town of Albany (approximately 150 miles). In 1609 Hudson met Mohawk Indians who told him that there was no way through the Appalachian Mountains to the Pacific. Turned back after failing to find a route, claiming the region for the Dutch. Six years later a Dutch party arrived to settle the mouth of the Hudson River, naming the settlement New Amsterdam (present-day city of New York).

Hudson Bay, Canada (1610-1611): Again commissioned to seek out a North West passage, financed by Sir Thomas Smythe for the East India and Virginia Companies. Left the Thames on 17.4.1610 in the ship Discovery. His decision to spend the winter at Hudson Bay proved fatal. Food ran short, and the sea had frozen around them, resulting in a mutiny by the crew. Hudson, his son, and seven others, were cast adrift in a ship’s boat on 22.6.1611. They were never seen again.