European Nations Settle in America By Drew Eilers Jan 1, 1524 Verrazzano, sailing for France, discovers New York Harbor. Jun 9, 1533 Frenchmen Jacques Cartier navigate the St. Lawrence River names Island along the River Montreal. May 13, 1607 Jamestown was founded on the coast of Virginia by 100 English settlers. Jul 3, 1608 French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, founded the colony of Quebec. Jan 1, 1609 Henry Hudson, exploring for the Netherlands, claims land that will become New Netherland. Jan 1, 1616 An epidemic of smallpox, brought by Europeans, kills many Native Americans on the New England coast. Dec 16, 1620 Pilgrims from England found an English Colony in Plymouth Massachusetts. Jan 1, 1664 The Duke of York drives out the Dutch in New Netherland. The Duke York claims the colony for England and renamed it New York. Jan 1, 1675 King Philip's War begins in colonial villages of Massachusetts, between Colonists and Native Americans. Apr 9, 1682 Sieur de la Salle explores the lower Mississippi Valley river, and claims Valley for France and names it Louisiana in honor of the French Louis XIV. Jan 1, 1754 War between the British and French, known as the French & Indian War. The war is fought over disputed land claims in the Ohio River Valley.
