Right from Prehistory through Ancient History, Middle Ages and up til Late Modern Times (but not Contemporary), a rule had been followed - if you find a piece of land that doesn't belong to anybody or belongs to people weaker than you, then you can claim that piece of land for yourself, irrespective of the size of the land. So the Brits and the French and the Italians claimed America and Canada and many other parts of the world.
(You are probably thinkinking of Jaques Cartier who claimed Canada for France.) (whatever that means.)
Giovanni de Verrazano
Napoleon.
East coast and Mid west
Christopher Columbus was an early explorer. He is credited with discovering the Americas.
Unlikely, since he never left America. Besides, he already knew where France was, living as he did in a French colony.I wish to be praised for the stoical patience of this answer.
being an early explorer
Jim Bowie was the one known for the Bowie Knife. Daniel Boone was known more for his skill with a long rifle and as an explorer in early America.
They claimed the entire Mississippi River basin for France
Jacques Cartier is the French explorer who explored the St. Lawrence River in the early 16th century and claimed the region, known as Canada, for France.
By the early 1600s, six nations-Spain, Portugal, France, Holland, England, and Sweden-had raised flags and claimed land in America.
Robert LaSalle was a French explorer known for his expeditions in North America, during which he claimed the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico for France. He established forts and settlements in the region, contributing to France's territorial claims in North America. LaSalle's explorations helped expand knowledge of the continent and had a significant impact on early European colonization efforts in the New World.
France and Spain
Leif Ericson.
No
He was a very early explorer of North America.
Giovanni da Verrazzano, a Florentine explorer, is known for exploring the Atlantic coastline for France in the early 16th century. He is credited with discovering and exploring parts of North America, including New York Harbor and Narragansett Bay.
France
The northern portion of what is now New York was explored for France by the French explorer Samuel de Champlain in the early 17th century. Champlain is known for establishing the first French settlement in North America, Quebec City, in 1608.
Giovanni da Verrazzano worked for France, particularly for King Francis I. He was an Italian explorer who was commissioned by the French to explore the east coast of North America in the early 16th century.