Cabot, John (Giovanni)

Cabot, John (Giovanni) (1425-98), sailor, b. Genoa, Italy.

John Cabot settled in Bristol (England) and King Henry VII gave him leave to 'sail to the east, west, or north, with five ships carrying the English flag, to seek and discover.'

Cabot set out not with five ships, but with only one - the Mathew. She had a crew of eighteen, including John's son Sebastian.

On 24 June, 1497 John Cabot landed somewhere on the coast of North America. He had discovered either Nova Scotia or Newfoundland - no one is sure which - and on his return King Henry awarded him £10.

In 1498 he sailed westwards again with three small ships, and they were never seen again.

See KAY HILL And Tomorrow the Stars: a biography of John Cabot