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Giovanni Caboto (Cabots Italian name, other spellings are used as well) was born in Genova?, probably around 1451. However, already when he was a child, or maybe a young man, he moved to Venice?. |
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Giovanni Caboto (Cabot's Italian name, other spellings are used as well) was born in Genoa?, probably around 1451. However, already when he was a child, or maybe a young man, he moved to Venice?. |
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Cabot left with only one vessel, the Matthew, a small ship (50 tuns), but fast and able. The crew consisted of only 18 people. He departed on 20 May, 1497 (he had also made a voyage in 1496, but got no further than Iceland). He sailed to [Dursey Head]?, Ireland, from where he sailed due west to Asia - or so he thought. He landed on the American eastcoast at 24 June, 1497. I would have liked to be more precise, but his landing-place is a matter of much controversy. He went ashore to take possession of the land, and explored the coast for some time, probably departing at 20 July. On the homeward travel his sailors thought they were going too far north, so Cabot sailed a more southernly course, reaching Brittany? instead of England. At 6 August he arrived back in Bristol. |
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Cabot left with only one vessel, the Matthew, a small ship (50 tons), but fast and able. The crew consisted of only 18 people. He departed on 20 May, 1497 (he had also made a voyage in 1496, but got no further than Iceland). He sailed to [Dursey Head]?, Ireland, from where he sailed due west to Asia - or so he thought. He landed on the American eastcoast at 24 June, 1497. His precise landing-place is a matter of much controversy. He went ashore to take possession of the land, and explored the coast for some time, probably departing at 20 July. On the homeward travel his sailors thought they were going too far north, so Cabot sailed a more southernly course, reaching Brittany? instead of England. On 6 August he arrived back in Bristol. |
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Back in England, Cabot got well rewarded (a pension of 20 pounds a year), and a patent was written for a new voyage. The next year, 1498, he departed again, with 5 ships this time. Except for one of the ships, that soon after depart made for an Irish port because of distress, nothing was heared of the expedition, or of John Cabot, ever since. |
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Back in England, Cabot got well rewarded (a pension of 20 pounds a year), and a patent was written for a new voyage. The next year, 1498, he departed again, with 5 ships this time. Except for one of the ships, that soon after departure made for an Irish port because of distress, nothing was heared of the expedition, or of John Cabot, ever since. |
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As I said before, Cabot's landfall is still unknown, because of lack of evidence. Many experts think it's on Cape Breton Island, but others look for it in Newfoundland, Labrador? or Maine. We'll probably never know the truth. |
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The location of Cabot's first landfall is still unknown, because of lack of evidence. Many experts think it was on Cape Breton Island, but others look for it in Newfoundland, Labrador? or Maine. The truth may never be known. |
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In 1498-1500 a few Portuguese travels, Miguel? and [Gaspar Corte-Real]? being the most famous participants, visited Greenland, Labrador and Newfoundland. In 1501-5 an English syndicate, consisting of 3 Azoreans and 2 English traders, made voyages to Newfoundland. From 1504?, if not before, Breton, Basque, Portuguese and English fishermen crossed the ocean to catch fish on the [Newfoundland banks]?. |
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In 1498-1500 a few Portuguese travelers, Miguel? and [Gaspar Corte-Real]? being the most famous participants, visited Greenland, Labrador and Newfoundland. In 1501-5 an English syndicate, consisting of 3 Azoreans and 2 English traders, made voyages to Newfoundland. From 1504?, if not before, Breton, Basque, Portuguese and English fishermen crossed the ocean to catch fish on the [Newfoundland banks]?. |
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The original version can also be found at http://www.win.tue.nl/~engels/discovery/cabot.html. Copied with permission. |
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The original version can also be found at http://www.win.tue.nl/~engels/discovery/cabot.html. Copied with permission. |
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