"He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors."  Thomas Jefferson

  "There is nothing more frightening than active ignorance." -- Goethe

"The search for truth is never wrong.  The only sin is to lack the courage to follow where truth leads." -- Duke

"He alone deserves to be remembered by his children who treasures up and preserves the memory of his fathers." -- Edmund Burke

JOHN CABOT

Giovanni Caboto

John Cabot.  Never heard of him?  Most people haven't.  But of anyone deserves the title, besides Leif Ericson and the Vikings, as "discoverer of America, it's Giovanni Caboto, or John Cabot.  An Italian navigator and explorer John Cabot and not Christopher Columbus was the first European to discover North America, in 1497, landing in Newfoundland.

Like other Italian explorers, Cabot was commissioned by another country.  It was probably on hearing of Columbus's discovery of the Indies that he decided to find a route to the west for himself.  He had a simple plan to start from a northerly latitude where the longitudes are much closer together, and where, as a result, the voyage would be much shorter.

Cabot sought funding from England and so his explorations were made under the English flag.  King Henry VII of England gave him a grant to go.  Ironic since King Henry VII had granted Columbus funds but Columbus was already promised to Spain.

Cabot went to Bristol, the second-largest port in England, to prepare for his voyage.  In 1496 Cabot set out from Bristol but he got no further than Iceland and was forced to return because of disputes with the crew.

On a second voyage Cabot used only one ship with a crew of 18.  A small ship, the Matthew was fast and able.  He departed around May 2 or possibly May 20, 1497 and sailed to Ireland.  He landed on the coast of Newfoundland on June 24, 1497.  His men were probably the first Europeans to set foot on the North American mainland since the Vikings.

Christopher Columbus did not find the South American mainland until his third voyage, in 1498.  Cabot went ashore to take possession of the land, explored, and left on July 20.

Back in England, Cabot was made an Admiral, rewarded with money, and a patent was written for a new voyage.  Later an annual pension was granted to him.  The next year, 1498, he departed again, this time with five ships.  One of the ships returned to an Irish port because of storm damage.  Once repaired the ship headed West.  Cabot and his expedition were never heard from again and are presumed to have been lost at sea.

John Cabot is remembered in Bristol, England by the Cabot Tower.  Also Cabot Tower in St. John's Newfoundland.  In Rome, Italy John Cabot University was established in 1972.  The Scenic Cabot Trail in the Highlands of Cape Breton is named after the explorer.

Why doesn't John Cabot get the accolades that Christopher Columbus gets?  After all, he is actually the one who "discovered" what is today the United States.  At first the British had downplayed the role Columbus played and emphasized John Cabot as a pioneering explorer.  But Cabot made a poor national hero for an emerging United States.  After all, he was lost at sea.  So Columbus was thrust into the spot light and poor Cabot lost his role as national hero.  No national holidays celebrating his achievement.

By all rights, we should be celebrating Leif Ericson day.

In no way should the information on this web site be used as an excuse for hatred, violence or to commit any illegal act against any person of color

This site is about information and education of White people and the preservation of our unique Heritage

Be Respectful, Be Polite, Be Christian at all times

Remember -- Truth is not Racist, Facts are not Hate!

Act accordingly