Final answer:
Henry Hudson discovered the present-day New York harbor and the Hudson River while searching for the Northwest Passage. Although the river became too shallow, he claimed the area for the Dutch.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1609, Henry Hudson, an English sea captain, was hired by Dutch merchants to lead an expedition into the Atlantic Ocean in search of the Northwest Passage. Hudson discovered the present-day New York harbor and the Hudson River, which he initially thought could be the Northwest Passage. However, the river became too shallow for ocean-going ships near present-day Albany, and the expedition had to turn back. While Hudson did not find the Northwest Passage, he did claim the valuable port and river valley for the Dutch.