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Henry VII Grants the Cabot Charter
In March 1496, England's Henry VII issued a charter to Venetian navigator John Cabot authorizing westward voyages to discover and claim lands, laying…
Timeline
- 1496Westminster · EnglandHenry VII granted John Cabot and his son Sebastian by letters patent the privilege of sailing west, discovering, and claiming new lands under the English flag, with one-fifth of trade revenues to go to the royal treasury.
- 1496Bristol · EnglandCabot assembled ships and crew at the port of Bristol, organizing the first transatlantic expedition under the charter. The 1496 voyage fell short of expectations due to supply and weather problems, but laid the groundwork for the successful 1497 arrival at Newfoundland in North America.
Sources
- John Cabot https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Cabot
- The Cabot Project — University of Bristol https://www.bristol.ac.uk/history/research/cabot.html