CABOT, John, or GIOVANNI CABOTO (in the Venetian dialect, ZUAN CABOTO), an Italian navigator in English employ; the dis coverer of the continent of North America. On 5 March 1496 he was given by Henry VII of England letters patent authorizing him to take possession of any countries he might dis cover. Under this charter, in May 1497, he embarked in a single vessel, the Matthew of Bristol, accompanied by his son Sebastian, and sailed west, as he said, 700 leagues, when, on 24 June 1497, he came upon land which he reported to have been a part of a continent, and which he assumed to be in the dominions of the Grand Cham. A letter of that year represents him as having sailed along the coast for 300 leagues; he landed, but saw no person, though he believed the country was not unin habited. He planted on the soil the banners of England and of Venice. The exact spot of his landing is not known, but from the La Cosa map and the map of Sebastian Cabot it appears to have been a point on the coast of Cape Breton, more than a year after Columbus dis covered the main land of the continent at Venezuela. On his return voyage he discerned two islands to the starboard, but for want of provisions did not stop to examine them. He reached Bristol in August. His discovery at
tracted the favor of the English King, who on 3 Feb. 1498 granted him letters patent to im press six English ships at no higher charges than were paid for ships taken for the King's service, to enlist companies of volunteers, nand theym convey and lede to the Londe and Iles of late founde by the seid John.' He sailed early in May with two ships, and after a stormy voy age sighted early in June the east coast of Greenland, which he named °Labrador's Land.' He then turned south, skirting the coasts of Nova Scotia and New England, and is believed to have reached the parallel of 38° near Chesa peake Bay, after which the return voyage was made. He then passes out of history. Neither the time nor the place of his death, nor his age, is known. Neither is it known what country gave him birth. He was a Venetian only by denization. Consult Beazley, 'John and Sebas tian Cabot' (New York 1898) ; Biggar, H. P., 'The Precursors of Jacques Cartier' (Ottawa 1911) ; Harrisse, H., 'John Cabot, The Discov erer of North America, and Sebastian, His Son: a Chapter of the Maritime History of England under the Tudors (1496-1557)) (Lon don 1895).