During the Age of Exploration, many people took to the sea to find new land for the European powers to claim as theirs and to eventually colonize them. Explorers braved uncharted oceans and made many new discoveries that have helped eventually settle into the countries that we now know. One of the most famous explorers of North America was John Cabot.
John Cabot was an Italian explorer who was born under the name of Giovanni Caboto in 1450. While accurate records of Cabot’s early years are not clear, in his early 20’s, Cabot lived in Venice and began to work as a maritime merchant. After a number of financial gains and losses, in late 1400’s, Cabot moved to England.
While in England, he began to see financial support for a western exploration. Unlike other explorers who sailed west using a southern route, Cabot selected a northern route, which would allow for a more direct route.
His first voyage began in 1496 and ended just as quickly because of a dispute among crew members. In 1497, Cabot began his second voyage to the new world. This time Cabot was successful with him reaching the shores of North America on June 24, 1497. The exact location of the landing is subject to debate, but it is commonly believed to have been in Newfoundland, Canada. Cabot’s final voyage took place in 1499 from Bristol, England. However, Cabot and his fleet of five ships were never heard from again, and were lost at sea.
The legacy of John Cabot shall remain forever. Cabot was an adventurous explorer who was the first European to land in North America.
To learn more about the famed Italian explorer, we have gathered a collection of resources: