The New Student's Reference Work/Cabot, Sebastian

Cab′ot, Sebastian, son of John Cabot, was probably born between 1474 and 1477, either at Bristol or at Venice. He accompanied his father on his voyage to Nova Scotia, and in 1498 he sailed with two ships in search of a northwestern passage to India. He left a few men on the bleak shores of Newfoundland and sailed southward along the American coast as far as Florida. Later he entered the service of Spain, and in 1526 commanded an expedition which examined the coast of Brazil and the River Plata, and there attempted to plant colonies. In 1547 he again went to England and became inspector of the navy. He was the prime mover of the expedition of merchant adventurers which opened to England an important trade with Russia. He was famous as the maker of maps, and he was probably the first who made sure that America was wholly a new and unknown continent. He died at London in 1557.