John Cabot

John Cabot was an Italian navigator and explorer who lived in the 15th century. He is famous for his 1497 voyage to the coast of North America. This trip, which he made for Henry VII, King of England, is considered the earliest known European exploration of North America since the Norse people visited a place called Vinland many years before.

Because of this important journey, both the Canadian and British governments chose Cape Bonavista in Newfoundland to honor the 500th anniversary of Cabot's expedition. Some people believe he may have landed in other places too.

Cabot's exploration helped open new paths for future voyages and trade between Europe and North America. His story is a key part of understanding how different parts of the world began to connect during the Age of Exploration.

Name and origins

John Cabot was known by different names depending on where he was. In Italian, he was Giovanni Caboto, in Venetian he was Zuan Caboto, in French he was Jean Cabot, and in English he was John Cabot. This happened because people in Europe often changed their names to fit the local language.

Cabot signed his name as "Zuan Chabotto" in Venice, using a version of the name John that was common there. He was born in Italy, and some think he may have been born in either Gaeta or Castiglione Chiavarese. Records show a Caboto family living in Gaeta until around 1443. Cabot became a citizen of the Republic of Venice in 1476, which means he must have lived there since at least 1461.

Early life

John Cabot was likely born a little before 1450. In 1471, he joined a special group in his city, showing he was already well-respected.

By 1476, Cabot became a full citizen of Venice, allowing him to take part in sea trade, especially with the eastern Mediterranean, which brought great wealth to Venice. He may have started this trade soon after. In 1483, a document mentions him selling someone he had gotten while in areas controlled by the ruler of Egypt, which included parts of what are now Israel, Syria, and Lebanon. This doesn't prove his later claim that he visited Mecca, which he told a Milan ambassador in London in 1497. Through this trade, he might have learned more about where valuable goods like spices and silks came from than most Europeans at the time.

Cabot was known as "Zuan Cabotto" in many records from the late 1480s. These records show that by 1484 he was married to Mattea and had sons named Ludovico, Sebastian, and Sancto. There are mentions of him working on building houses in Venice. He may have used this skill later when he looked for work in Spain as a builder of public works.

Cabot ran into money troubles in the late 1480s and left Venice by November 1488 because he owed money. He went to Valencia, Spain, where his creditors tried to have him arrested. There, he suggested ideas to improve the harbor, but they were turned down. In early 1494, he moved to Seville and proposed building a stone bridge over the Guadalquivir river. He was hired to build it and worked for five months, but the project was stopped by the City Council in December 1494. After this, Cabot looked for support in Seville and Lisbon for a trip across the Atlantic Ocean. He then went to London to find money and help for his plans, likely arriving in mid-1495.

Sponsorship

John Cabot sought money and support from the English king for his journeys. He planned to sail west from a northern area to find a sea route to Asia.

Historians used to think Cabot went to Bristol, a big sea city, for money to support his trips. The king’s permission from 1496 said all trips should start from Bristol and that any goods found should come only through that city. The king would get one-fifth of the profits.

Later, a historian found that Cabot first went to London. There, he got money from people in the Italian community, including a priest who helped him meet King Henry VII. Cabot also received a loan from a bank in London to help pay for his trip to find new lands.

Expeditions

Cabot traveled to Bristol to get ready for his journey. Bristol was an important port in England and had sent out many trips to search for a magical island called Hy-Brasil in the Atlantic Ocean.

Not much is known about Cabot’s first trip. A letter from a merchant named John Day, written around 1497–98 to Christopher Columbus, mentions that Cabot’s first voyage had a small crew, few supplies, and bad weather, so he turned back early.

The second voyage happened in 1497, after Cabot got permission from the king in March 1496.