JOHN CABOT
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John Cabot was born in approximately 1450 in Italy. The exact location of his birth is disputed but it is thought to be either Gaeta or Castiglione Chiavarese. Cabot was a well-respected member of society as suggested by his acceptance into the confraternity of St John the Evangelist in 1471. Cabot moved to Venice soon after this and gained citizenship in 1476 in order to allow him to trade. Cabot traded in a number of different commodities, but came into financial problems in 1480. He was made to leave Venice in 1488.
Cabot first moved to Valencia, Spain, and then onto Seville. He put forward a number of building proposals but they were rejected. Cabot tried to get funding for an expedition but support was not forthcoming. He moved to London in 1495 to look for financial support, but was not successful with his efforts. Eventually he did receive some funding, and although it was not enough to cover the entire costs of the expedition, he decided to start planning for his voyage anyway. |
John Cabot
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Cabot’s first voyage was little to write home about. He had not planned well enough and so ran out of supplies. He and his crew also came into inclement weather and as a result they had to return to Britain. In 1497 Cabot set out on a second voyage, this time much more prepared. Cabot sailed across the Atlantic and made land at North America. Cabot is best known for his 1497 voyage as he discovered parts of North America which had not been explored by Europeans since the Norse Vikings' visited the area in the eleventh century. When Cabot returned home he was rewarded with £10 which was equivalent to more than two years’ wages for a labourer.
Cabot did set sail on a third voyage to Newfoundland, but it is not well recorded. It is thought that the voyage was largely for trade in things such as cotton, spices and gold. After a number of months in Canada, the crew set sail for Britain in 1500. Unfortunately, the ships got caught in bad weather on their return to Britain and it is thought that all of the crew members, including Cabot died. However, this is disputed as some historians think that Cabot made it back to Britain and died soon after that.
Cabot did set sail on a third voyage to Newfoundland, but it is not well recorded. It is thought that the voyage was largely for trade in things such as cotton, spices and gold. After a number of months in Canada, the crew set sail for Britain in 1500. Unfortunately, the ships got caught in bad weather on their return to Britain and it is thought that all of the crew members, including Cabot died. However, this is disputed as some historians think that Cabot made it back to Britain and died soon after that.