John Cabot

John Cabot Biography Explorer (1450– 1500) Explorer John Cabot made a British claim to land in Canada, mistaking it for Asia, during his 1497 voyage on the ship Matthew. Who Was John Cabot? John Cabot (c. 1450, disappeared May 1498), born Giovanni Caboto,... More

John Cabot Biography Explorer (1450– 1500) Explorer John Cabot made a British claim to land in Canada, mistaking it for Asia, during his 1497 voyage on the ship Matthew. Who Was John Cabot? John Cabot (c. 1450, disappeared May 1498), born Giovanni Caboto, was a Venetian explorer and navigator known for his 1497 voyage to North America, where he claimed land in Canada for England. After setting sail in May 1498 for a return voyage to North America, Cabot's final days remain a mystery. What Did John Cabot Discover? In 1497 Cabot traveled by sea from Bristol to Canada, which he mistook for Asia. Cabot made a claim to the North American land for King Henry VII of England, setting the course for England's rise to power in the 16th and 17th centuries. Cabot’s Route Like Christopher Columbus, Cabot believed that sailing west from Europe was the shorter route to Asia. Hearing of opportunities in England, Cabot traveled there and met with King Henry VII, who gave him a grant to "seek out, disco Less