Henry Hudson
first set sail in 1607 in the attempt to find the Northwest
Passage to the Far East. Three subsequent voyages followed.
The first
two voyages were made on the shop "Hopewell." After a third
unsuccessful voyage, Hudson could no longer find anyone in England
interested in sponsoring his quest of finding a shortcut to
the Orient.
In 1608,
Hudson dined with a Dutchman named Emmanuel van Meteran, an
English representative to the Dutch East India Company. The
company was looking for a shorter route to trade with the Orient.
Ultimately, the Dutch hired Hudson.
With the
assistance of a trusty Dutch sailing vessel, Hudson continued
on his voyage and eventually discovered a river that had been
called an assortment of names, including Muhheakunnuk, Grande
River, Rio de Sant Antonio, and River of Mountains. This river
was finally named after Hudson himself.
