In 1524, Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, working for France, made his way along the Atlantic and reached what we now call New York Harbor, exploring Manhattan without establishing much of a colony. Similarly, French explorer Jacques Cartier ventured into the area in 1535, yet like Verrazzano, he left little lasting impact on the region. It wasn’t until 1609 when Henry Hudson, working for the Dutch East India Company, arrived with clear intentions of colonizing New York. His expedition marked a turning point in the area's European settlement.
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