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.