Final answer:
Giovanni da Verrazano was the Italian explorer who led expeditions for France, aiming to find a northwest passage to Asia. Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain were also significant French explorers who contributed to the expansion of France's empire in the New World.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Italian explorer who led expeditions for France was Giovanni da Verrazano. Commissioned by the French monarchy, Verrazano embarked on a voyage in 1532 to discover a northwest passage to Asia. This exploration was part of France's efforts to establish its empire and expand its trade routes, paralleling the actions of neighboring Spain. Another notable French explorer, Jacques Cartier, followed Verrazano two years later, claiming the mouth of the St. Lawrence Seaway for France and founding Charlesbourg-Royal, the first French settlement in the New World. On the other hand, Samuel de Champlain is renowned for founding Quebec in 1608 and played a significant role in the establishment of French presence in the New World.