On This Day In Canadian History....
1534 - Jacques Cartier sets sail on first voyage with two ships; commissioned by François I to find passage to Asia and 'lands where there is a great quantity of gold'; makes crossing to Newfoundland in just 20 days; explores Strait of Belle Isle, which he hoped was the beginning of a river leading to China; says of the coast, 'I believe that this was the land God gave to Cain'; returns Sept. 5.
On This Day In Canadian History....
1907 - Six Nations Onondaga marathon runner Tom Longboat wins the Boston marathon in a time of 2:24:24
On This Day In Canadian History....
1763 - Marie-Josephte Corriveau hanged near the Plains of Abraham for murdering her 2nd husband Louis Dodier, who apparently beat her; the corpse of the celebrated murderess is hung for a month in an iron cage at Lauzon by the Pointe-Levy for passers-by to see.
On This Day In Canadian History....
1967 - Lester Pearson announces creation of the Order of Canada, effective July 1; to honour outstanding citizens for service to Canada or humanity at large. The honour will be granted by the Governor General, and new Governor General Roland Michener will be first to hold the Order.
On This Day In Canadian History....
1542 - Jean-François de La Roque de Roberval sets sail with three ships and 200 convicts to found a colony on the St. Lawrence. Appointed France's first viceroy in Canada, Sieur de Roberval explores upriver as far as Montreal, searching for the legendary kingdom of the Saguenay; the expedition is a failure and the survivors return home in 1543.
