John Cabot (England 1497-1498)

John Cabot sailed from England to try to find a way to the East much like Columbus. (During this time, England and Spain were enemies and competing to be the most powerful nation in Europe) Cabot, with a crew of twenty men onboard the Matthew sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in seven weeks. At first, they found enormous quantities of cod fish which Cabot said were so plentiful that they could be pulled from the sea in buckets. Soon after Cabot's voyage, many ships would come to the Grand Banks to fish the rich waters off the coast of Newfoundland. Later Cabot went ashore and claimed the land for England calling it "New Founde Lande". Although he was lost at sea in a later voyage, Cabot began English involvement in the "New World" and located some of the best fishing waters ever found.

Factfile: John Cabot was an Italian sea captain from Genoa in Italy whose real name was Giovanni Caboto. The English King had his name shortened to "John Cabot" to make him appear to be an Englishman rather than an Italian in the service of the King.

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