Giovanni da Verrazano

Year of 1485-1528

Born into this world from a noble family in the year 1485 in Tuscany, France, Giovanni da Verrazano earned an excellent education growing up. He later joined the French maritime service and moved to Dieppe, a popular seaport, in France. In 1523, King Frances I made a deal to give Verrazano two ships if he would set sail and try to discover the Northwest passage to the Orient. In 1524 in the month of January, Giovanni hit the ocean blue, with his ship being named La Dauphine, with 3 other ships boarded with around 50 men. Verrazano put effort and determination into his discoveries and unknowingly, he landed at a place we recognize as Cape Fear in North Carolina in March 1524. He then explored the east coast of the Americas and named many places we call today, the New York Bay, Block Island, and the Narragansett Bay for example, names from the Old World. After meeting the natives that were along the coast of North America, He sent letters to King Frances I that were dated July 8, 1524. He also written false reports about the Natives and even stole a native child he used as a slave. After exploring past Maine, him and his crew sailed back to Dieppe, France. Giovanni sailed twice more during 1526 to 1527 on a mission to Brazil seeking a passage to the Far East, bringing home brazil wood, used for red dye, but failing to seek the passage. His last voyage was in 1528 where he was exploring Florida, the Bahamas, and Lesser Antilles with his brother and two other ships. He was in a little boat and while greeting and trying to trade with ignorant natives, he found himself in a deadly situation. The natives were apparently cannibals that captured him and ate him; he was killed at the age of 43. His brother was in an anchored boat witnessing what was happening but couldnt do anything about it because he was too far away. When he arrived at shore, it was too late. Giovanni da Verrazano was well-known for discovering the New York Harbor, Block Island, and most of the Eastern coast of what we now call the United States. Even though he didnt complete his true intentions, Giovanni has discovered much of the eastern coast that we see today.