What places were named for explorer Henry Hudson?”
Much of English explorer Henry Hudson’s life is a mystery, but the years 1607 – 1611 are certainly notable. During those four years, Hudson left his mark on North America and the world, with such importance that three waterways are now named for him. His tireless quest to forge new trade routes culminated in him losing his life, but gaining posterity for all time. In 1607, Henry Hudson (whose age at that time is unknown) was hired by English traders who called themselves the Muscovy Company. The Muscovy Company did extensive trading with Asia, and were hampered by the amount of time it took to travel between these distant countries. Convinced that there was indeed a route that could save them both time and money, they hired the explorer, Henry Hudson. Hudson’s job then was to find a northern waterway route from England to Asia. It was widely assumed at that time that Asia could actually be reached by sailing north, although geographers were not sure of the exact route, and whether Huds
The Hudson River in New York and New Jersey, explored by Hudson, is named after him, as are Hudson County, New Jersey, and Hudson, New York. In the Canadian Arctic, Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait, also discovered by Hudson, are named after him. He also appears as a mythic character in the famous story of Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving.
