Verrazano Giovanni Du


Born near Florence, Italy, in 1470. Entered

French marine service, 1495. Credited with visiting the coast of

America, 1508. In 1523 sent by Francis I to explore to the westward. The

following year arrived with La Dauphine off the coast of North America,

and explored from Florida to Newfoundland, taking possession of the

latter island in the name of the king of France. Landed at a point near

Cape Fear, and discovered the bays of Narragansett and New York. Nothing

is known of his latter years, beyond the fact that he was in Paris, at

least as late as Dec. 24, 1527, fitting out an expedition of five ships

to sail the following March. Verrazano's claim to the discovery of the

mouth of the Hudson, questioned by Murphy, has been re-established by

the discovery in Rome of a hitherto unknown version of the explorer's

report of his voyage. See Bacchiani's article, with facsimile, in the

Bollettiano of the Italian Geographical Society, November, 1909.



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