Adriaen Block

Adriaen Block (lived early 17th century), Dutch navigator, who explored the northeastern coast of what is now the United States. In 1609 Block took part in explorations of New York Bay and the New England coast with the English navigator Henry Hudson. In 1613 Block returned to New York Bay in command of the Tiger, one of several ships sent out by the Dutch government. He also sailed up the Hudson River to present-day Albany, New York. After a fire destroyed his vessel, Block encamped with his crew on Manhattan Island, where they built a ship named Unrest. In 1614 Unrest became the first European ship to enter Long Island Sound from the west. On this voyage Block also discovered the Housatonic River, explored the Connecticut River as far north as present-day Hartford, Connecticut, and discovered the island off the coast of Rhode Island that now bears his name (see Block Island). He then explored the coast of what is now Rhode Island and Massachusetts, including Cape Cod. Block later incorporated geographical data obtained on the voyage in a map, called the Figurative Map of 1614, which showed for the first time that Manhattan Island is separated from Long Island.