Cabot John
Probably a native of Genoa. Became a citizen of Venice,
March 28, 1476, and at that time had been a resident of the city for
fifteen years. Went to England, and in 1497, under the direct authority
of Henry VII, sailed to the westward on a voyage of discovery. Landed on
the shores of America, but his exact landfall has been a moot point. It
is now generally believed that it was the easternmost cape of Cape
Breton. The f
llowing year sailed again, but there is no record that he
ever returned from this second voyage. =Bib.=: Beazley, John and
Sebastian Cabot; Dawson, The Voyages of the Cabots (R. S. C., 1894,
1896, 1897); Deane, Voyages of the Cabots, in Winsor, Nar. & Cr.
Hist. of America, vol. 3; Harrisse, John Cabot, the Discoverer of
North America; Weare, Cabot's Discovery of North America; Ober. John
and Sebastian Cabot. =Cabot, Sebastian= (1477?-1557?). Son of John
Cabot. His share in the discovery of North America has been the subject
of much controversy. From having once been regarded as the sole
discoverer, it is now considered doubtful that he had anything to do
with the voyages of 1497 and 1498. He was in the service of Spain, and
also of England, receiving from Edward VI the title of Grand Pilot of
England. =Bib.=: Biddle, Memoir of Sebastian Cabot; Nicholls, Life of
Sebastian Cabot; Tarducci, John and Sebastian Cabot. These are
favourable to Sebastian's claims. See references under preceding entry
for the other side of the controversy.