Europeans Nations Settle in North America By NotZane Jan 1, 1524 Verrazzano, sailing for France discovers New York Harbor Jan 1, 1534 Frenchman Jacques Cartier navigates the St. Lawrence River and names an island along the River Montreal Jan 1, 1607 Jamestown is founded on the coast of Virginia by 100 English settlers 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 Jan 1, 1620 Pilgrims from England found an English Colony in Plymouth Jan 1, 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. Jan 1, 1675 King Phillip's War begins in Colonial villages of Massachusetts, between colonists and Native Americans