John Cabot

John Cabot was an Italian navigator who lived a long time ago in the 15th century. He is known for sailing to the coast of North America in 1497. He made this trip for Henry VII, King of England. This is thought to be the first time Europeans visited North America since the Norse people went to a place called Vinland long before.

Because of this important trip, the Canadian and British governments picked Cape Bonavista in Newfoundland to celebrate 500 years since Cabot’s journey. Some think he might have landed in other places too.

Cabot’s exploration helped create new ways for people to travel and trade between Europe and North America. His story is important for learning how different parts of the world started to connect during a time called the Age of Exploration.

Name and origins

John Cabot had different names in different places. In Italian, he was Giovanni Caboto. In Venetian, he was Zuan Caboto. In French, he was Jean Cabot. In English, he was John Cabot. People in Europe often changed their names to match the local language.

Cabot signed his name as "Zuan Chabotto" in Venice. He was born in Italy, maybe in Gaeta or Castiglione Chiavarese. Records show a Caboto family lived in Gaeta until around 1443. Cabot became a citizen of the Republic of Venice in 1476, so he must have lived there since at least 1461.

Early life

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

By 1476, Cabot became a full citizen of Venice. This let him join in sea trade, especially with the eastern Mediterranean. This trade brought wealth to Venice. He may have started this trade soon after. In 1483, a document mentions him selling someone he had gotten in areas controlled by the ruler of Egypt. These areas included parts of what are now Israel, Syria, and Lebanon.

Cabot was known as "Zuan Cabotto" in records from the late 1480s. 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 had money troubles in the late 1480s and left Venice in 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 needed money and help from the English king for his trips. He wanted to sail west to find a sea route to Asia.

People used to think Cabot got support from Bristol, a big sea city. The king’s permission from 1496 said all trips should start from Bristol and that 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 got a loan from a bank in London to help pay for his trip to find new lands.

Expeditions

Cabot went to Bristol to prepare for his journey. Bristol was an important port in England and had sent out many trips to look 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, says 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.