Here's why:
* He was looking for the Northwest Passage: Hudson's expeditions were motivated by the desire to find a sea route to Asia through the Arctic, known as the Northwest Passage.
* His voyages explored the North American coast: He explored the Hudson River (named after him) and the Hudson Bay in Canada. He also sailed along the coast of Greenland.
* No passage to the Orient was found: While he discovered important geographical features, he never found a way through to the Pacific Ocean and Asia.
The Northwest Passage was eventually discovered, but not until much later in history.