John Cabot, born Giovanni Caboto in Italy some time around the year 1450 was to grow up to become a famous navigator and explorer. Not much is known about his early life other than that when he was around 26 years old he became a citizen of Venice, Italy. During his time in Venice he learned sailing and navigation from Italian seamen and merchants. In 1474 he married a woman named Mattea and had three children. His son Sebastiano also became an explorer like his father. During the year of 1495 he moved to Bristol, England with his wife and three children. Around a year later during the year of 1496 he received a letters-patent from King Henry VII of England for a voyage of discovery. Cabot had been greatly inspired to become an explorer by learning of the discoveries of Bartolomeu Diaz and Christopher Columbus. Because of Columbus Cabot too believed that sailing west from England was a faster way to reach Asia. In the year 1497, Cabot made his voyage on a ship named Matthew which weighed 50 tons and contained 18 men. After 50 days of sailing Cabot and his men landed along the Eastern coast of North America. Mistaking the land for part of Asia, Cabot claimed the land for King Henry VII of England.
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