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Sebastian Cabot
Venetian Navigator, Cartographer, & Explorer
 Sebastian claimed to
have accompanied his father, John Cabot, on the elder’s first voyage to
North America in 1497, which mistook the American coast for the coast of
China. He also claimed that he took part of a 1508 expedition to the
North American mainland, visiting Labrador and Hudson Bay. Many
historians doubt the veracity of these claims.Sebastian, a cartographer for then King Henry VIII, accompanied the
English army sent to aid King Ferdinand II of Aragon against the French.
He drafter maps for the invasion into France in the War of the Holy
League. In 1512, during that campaign, Cabot entered the service of
Spain and served King Ferdinand, and then King Charles. Six years after
switching sides to join up with the Spanish forces, he was promoted by
his new King to the title of Pilot-Major by King Charles.In 1525, Cabot led to the Pacific a three-ship Spanish expedition
intended to establish trade with the Orient. En route, while stopped on
the shores of Brazil, Cabot heard tales of the riches to be had in the
Rio de la Plata region of South America, and as a result he abandoned
his original mission and headed to Rio de la Plata instead. Cabot failed
to find this fabled region, and as a result, also failed to complete his
original mission. As a result, Sebastian Cabot was arrested upon his
return to Spain on charges of mismanagement. After a period of
banishment to Africa, however, he was once again restored to his posting
of Pilot Major.In 1548, after a period of disillusionment with the Spanish service,
Cabot returned to England, where he had been offered a naval post by the
English crown. He enjoyed great popularity in the court of King Edward
VI, who appointed him the Grand Pilot of England. He founded and led the
Muscovy Company of Merchant Adventurers. As head of the Muscovy Company,
Cabot supported exploratory expeditions to increase England’s trade,
especially with the East. |
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