Born in the 1500s, Henry Hudson was an English sea explorer. He navigated the region around modern New York City four times, searching for a passage to Asia. After surviving an arctic winter in 1610, members of Hudson's crew mutinied and cast him and a few crew members away on a small boat, never to be seen again. A river, strait and bay were eventually named in his honor.
Considered one of the world's most famous explorers, Henry Hudson actually never found what he was looking for. He spent his career searching for different routes to Asia, but he ended up opening the door to further exploration and settlement of North America.
While many places bear his name, Henry Hudson remains an elusive figure. There is little information available about the famous explorer prior his first journey as a ship's commander in 1607. It is believed that he learned about the seafaring life firsthand, perhaps from fishermen or sailors. He must have had a talent for navigation early on, enough to merit becoming a commander in his late twenties. Prior to 1607, Hudson probably worked aboard other ships before being appointed to lead one on his own. Reports also indicate that he was married to a woman named Katherine, and they had three sons together.
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