Sebastian Cabot, Italian Explorer

Portrait of Sebastian Cabot by Manescardi in the Doge's Palace in Venice. Sebastian Cabot (1474-1557) was an Italian explorer, mapmaker and navigator and son of the explorer John Cabot. He worked as a cartographer for England's King Henry VIII and a captain for Spain's King Ferdinand V, explored for England's King Henry VII. Cabot searched for the Northwest passage across North America (1508). Later, for Spain, he began a trip around the world (1526-1529) in a voyage that was supposed to sail to China, but he only made it as far as the Rio de la Plata (a river between Argentina and Uruguay). After fighting, abandoning some of his crew and exploring the river, hostile natives and a lack of food forced him to return to Spain. His trip was deemed unsuccessful. In 1553, Cabot again was employed to search for a water passage across the north of Asia. On this voyage, he sailed as far as the White Sea. This expedition resulted in a successful trade agreement between England and Russia. Very little is known about Sebastian Cabot's life. The account he wrote of his journeys has been lost and only one map that he drew still exists. Cabot may have made other undocumented trips, including trips to the West Indies. The date of Cabot's death and what he died of is unknown, but it is generally agreed that he died in 1557

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Cabot Cartographer Doges Mapmaker Mariner Navigator Voyager

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