Henry Hudson was hired in 1609 by a Dutch trading company to sail his ship the Half Moon with 20 crew members to find a northern trade route to Asia. After failing to find a passage, he explored the river that would later be named after him, becoming the first European to sail up the Hudson River. His voyage gave the Dutch claim to the region, leading them to settle the Hudson Valley in 1624 and contribute to the growth of what would become New York.
