How did New York get its name?

An Englishman, Henry Hudson, employed by Holland, was one of the many explorers who tried to find a route to the Indies via America. Although he sailed far up the river which later bore his name, he did not succeed in discovering a route. Nevertheless, the Dutch claimed all the land on either side of the Hudson despite the fact that it drove a wedge through English possessions. In 1626 they bought Manhattan Island from the Indians, built a settlement there and called it New Amsterdam. A governor was appointed, a one-legged Dutchman called Peter Stuyvesant. This was too much provocation for the English settlers. A fleet sent by James, Duke of York, sailed from England and anchored off New Amsterdam. The town gave in without firing a shot although the governor did all he could do make his men fight. Later its name was changed from ‘New Amsterdam’ to New York’ to honour the royal duke who had financed the invasion.