European Nations Settle in North America By dustinparadine May 12, 1524 New York Harbor Discovered by Verrazzano May 12, 1607 Jamestown is founded on the coast of Virginia by 100 English settlers May 12, 1608 French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, founds the colony of Quebec May 12, 1609 Frenchman Jacques Cartier navigate the St. Lawrence River and names an island along the river Montreal May 12, 1616 An epidemic of smallpox, brought by Europeans, kills many native Americans on the New England coast May 12, 1620 Pilgrims from England found an English colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts May 12, 1621 Henry Hudson, exploring for the Netherlands, claims land that will become New Netherland May 12, 1664 The Duke of york drives out the Dutch in New Netherland. The Duke of York claims the colony for England and renames it New York
