John Cabot

John Cabot was born in 1450 in Italy. He explored for England. In Italy, he is known as Giovanni Caboto (which is his original name).

Cabot was born in Italy but moved to England in 1495. King Henry VII of England asked John to sail to Canada in 1497. He landed near Labrador, Newfoundland on June 24th, 1497. He claimed the land for England.

John explored the Canadian coast and named many islands. He was looking for a route across North America to Asia. He thought he had found Asia, even though he never actually did.

In 1498, John went on a larger trip. No one knows for sure where he landed on that journey. He died in England in 1499.