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.)
East coast and Mid west
The French explorer who established Quebec was Samuel de Champlain. He founded the city in 1608, recognizing its strategic location for trade and defense. Champlain is often referred to as the "Father of New France" for his significant role in the early development of the French colonies in North America. His explorations and alliances with Indigenous peoples were crucial to the success of the settlement.
Louisiana was claimed for France in the early 18th century by explorers such as Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, who named the territory in honor of King Louis XIV. The region later passed to Spain in 1762, returned to France briefly, and was ultimately sold to the United States in the 1803 Louisiana Purchase.
The French first arrived in Canada in the early 16th century, with explorer Jacques Cartier making his first voyage in 1534. He claimed the land for France, and subsequent expeditions, including those by Samuel de Champlain in the early 1600s, led to the establishment of permanent French settlements in the region, notably Quebec City in 1608. This marked the beginning of significant French influence in Canada.
Christopher Columbus was an early explorer. He is credited with discovering the Americas.
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.
Jacques Cartier was a French explorer who claimed what is now Canada for France in the 16th century. He made three voyages to North America, exploring the Gulf of St. Lawrence and parts of the St. Lawrence River. Cartier is considered an important figure in early French exploration of North America.
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
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.