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What Happened to Henry Hudson?

The daring explorer was searching for a route that would make him famous—until his life ended in mystery.

January 3, 2022
By Sarah Wells

As You Read, Think About: Why did Henry Hudson want to find a shortcut to Asia?

Trapped! The year was 1611 and Henry Hudson’s ship, the Discovery, had been stuck in a block of ice. For seven months, the explorer and his crew were caught in the icy waters of what is now James Bay, in Canada. By June of that year, the weather had warmed enough for them to set sail once again.

Before Hudson could sail very far, members of his crew tied his hands behind his back. They forced him off the ship onto a tiny boat, along with his 17-year-old son and seven other men. The small group was set adrift in the cramped boat. They watched helplessly as the Discovery sailed away.

Hudson was never heard from again. Why did his men turn on him—and what became of the explorer?

Trapped! The year was 1611. Henry Hudson’s ship, the Discovery, had been stuck in a block of ice. For seven months, the explorer and his crew were caught in the icy waters of what is now James Bay, in Canada. By June of that year, the weather had warmed enough for them to set sail once again.

Before Hudson could sail very far, members of his crew tied his hands behind his back. They forced him off the ship onto a tiny boat. His 17-year-old son and seven other men were also with him. The small group was set adrift in the cramped boat. They watched helplessly as the Discovery sailed away. 

Hudson was never heard from again. Why did his men turn on him? And what became of the explorer?

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Looking for Fame

Two years earlier, Hudson and his crew had been hired by the Dutch East India Company. Their mission was to find a shortcut from Europe to Asia.

At the time, Asian spices like pepper and cinnamon were used as medicine. But it could take years sailing through dangerous waters to get to Asia. A more direct route would save time, money, and lives.

Hudson had already failed twice before to find that route. But, in 1609, he set out to try again, knowing that whoever found it would become famous.

Two years earlier, Hudson and his crew had been hired by the Dutch East India Company. Their mission was to find a shortcut from Europe to Asia. 

At the time, Asian spices like pepper and cinnamon were used as medicine. But it could take years sailing through dangerous waters to get to Asia. A more direct route would save time, money, and lives.

Hudson had already failed twice before to find that route. But, in 1609, he set out to try again. He knew that whoever found it would become famous.

Famous Fail

Sarin Images/The Granger Collection

Henry Hudson

After five months at sea, Hudson arrived at what he hoped was the shortcut. Instead, it was a river outside modern-day New York City. Years later, it was named the Hudson River, after the explorer.

Indigenous groups had already called the area home for hundreds of years, but it was new to Europeans.

“No European had ever mapped the Hudson River before,” says historian Peter Mancall. “The river gets put on the map because of him.”

After five months at sea, Hudson arrived at what he hoped was the shortcut. Instead, it was a river outside modern-day New York City. Years later, it was named the Hudson River, after the explorer.

Indigenous groups had already called the area home for hundreds of years. But it was new to Europeans.

“No European had ever mapped the Hudson River before,” says historian Peter Mancall. “The river gets put on the map because of him.”

The Bitter End

Hudson’s quest to find a shorter route to Asia didn’t end with this third failure. He set sail on a fourth expedition in 1610. It would be his last.

On this trip, Hudson and his crew sailed down what is now Hudson Bay to James Bay, where that water route ended. By the frigid winter of 1611, the crew was fed up. They were tired, cold, and starving. They argued with Hudson, who wanted to continue the voyage and refused to return home. The crew wanted to sail back to England. When they got the chance, they did—but not before throwing their captain overboard.

No one knows for sure what happened to Hudson. There are no records of him after the mutiny. Some people think he might have survived by joining up with local Native peoples. But Mancall and other experts say Hudson likely died in the winter of 1611.

Though he never found what he was looking for, Mancall says Hudson was still successful.

“Many people think Hudson was a failure,” says Mancall. “But he was a courageous explorer, willing to take risks.”

Hudson’s quest to find a shorter route to Asia didn’t end with this third failure. He set sail on a fourth expedition in 1610. It would be his last.

On this trip, Hudson and his crew sailed down what is now Hudson Bay to James Bay. That's where the water route ended. By the frigid winter of 1611, the crew was fed up. They were tired, cold, and starving. They argued with Hudson. He wanted to continue the voyage and refused to return home. The crew wanted to sail back to England. When they got the chance, they did—but not before throwing their captain overboard.

No one knows for sure what happened to Hudson. There are no records of him after the mutiny. Some people think he might have survived by joining up with local Native peoples. But Mancall and other experts say Hudson likely died in the winter of 1611.

Though he never found what he was looking for, Mancall says Hudson was still successful.

“Many people think Hudson was a failure,” says Mancall. “But he was a courageous explorer, willing to take risks.”

Map It Out

In the 17th century, most Europeans reached Asia by traveling south, around Africa. Hudson was looking for a shorter northern water route called the Northwest Passage. 

Based on the map, why did Hudson’s attempts to find the Northwest Passage to Asia fail?

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

Map It Out

In the 17th century, most Europeans reached Asia by traveling south, around Africa. Hudson was looking for a shorter northern water route called the Northwest Passage. 

Based on the map, why did Hudson’s attempts to find the Northwest Passage to Asia fail?

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

1. According to the article, why would a shortcut from Europe to Asia have been helpful in the early 1600s?

2. What led to the mutiny of the Discovery crew in 1611?

3. What is the purpose of the map on page 3?

1. According to the article, why would a shortcut from Europe to Asia have been helpful in the early 1600s?

2. What led to the mutiny of the Discovery crew in 1611?

3. What is the purpose of the map on page 3?

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