French colonization of the Americas French colonization of the Americas The French colonization of the Americas began in the 16th century, and continued on into the following centuries as France established a colonial empire in the Western Hemisphere. France founded colonies in much of eastern North America, on a number of Caribbean islands, and in South America. Most colonies were developed to export products such as fish, rice sugar, and furs. As they colonized the New World, the French established forts and settlements that would become such cities as Quebec and Montreal in Canada; Detroit, Green Bay, St. Louis, Cape Girardeau, Mobile, Biloxi, Baton Rouge
George (given name) George (given name) George is a widespread masculine given name, derived from the Greek () through the Latin . Its popularity is due to the widespread veneration of the Christian military saint Saint George (George of Lydda, d. 303). The Greek name as given in the Roman era may ultimately derive from the name of Zeus Georgos, an epithet of Zeus in his aspect as the god of crops. Even though the saint has been considered a patron saint of England since the 15th or 16th century, the given name was rarely given in English prior to the accession of