Hudson Horizons ; Celebrating the Exploration of a Great River Valley - 400 Years Later; Henry Hudson First Sailed the Half Moon to What Is Now Albany in 1609; Now, the Netherlands Joins River Towns in Marking His Achievements.

Summary

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On a resume, Henry Hudson's achievements might not land him any work. Four unsuccessful attempts at finding a northern route to the Orient. As a leader, not so hot either, having inspired his crew to mutiny on several occasions, the last coming in 1610. After spending a winter stuck in ice near Greenland, Hudson wanted to continue on to find that elusive passage. His crew had other ideas. They put him in a small boat and set him adrift. He was never heard from again.

Poor Henry. Misguided and often mistaken, it seems the guy could get no respect. But was he really the Rodney Dangerfield of the age of exploration? Was he actually a failure as a navigator and leader of men?

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Extract

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Hudson Horizons ; Celebrating the Exploration of a Great River Valley - 400 Years Later; Henry Hudson First Sailed the Half Moon to What Is Now Albany in 1609; Now, the Netherlands Joins River Towns in Marking His Achievements.

Well, he did discover the river that bears his name on a journey for the Dutch East India Company, albeit inadvertently. And obviously, anyone with not just a river but a bay, a parkway and a British trading company named after him must have left some sort of positive impression.

But after 400 years, the details of Hudson's life remain frustratingly mysterious. We know little about him, and some of what we think we know is just plain wrong.

This year marks the quadricentennial of Hudson's discovery of the Hudson River. And, after a slow start, a major celebration of the anniversary is under way in New York State, with communities all along the Hudson participating. Since it is also the quadricentennial of Samuel Champlain's voyages along the river and the 200th anniversary...

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