Jacques Cartier (December 31, 1491 – September 1, 1557) is a French explorer of Breton origin who claims what is now Canada for France.

He is the first European to describe and map the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the shores of the Saint Lawrence River, which he names "The Country of Canadas", after the Iroquois names for the two big settlements he sees at Stadacona (Quebec City) and at Hochelaga (Montreal Island).