John Cabot was authorized by King Henry VII of England to "search for unknown lands in the west." It was the age of exploration, when the European powers of Spain, Portugal, England, Holland & France expanded their trade with Asia and hoped to find wealth in "new worlds." Adventurous navigators like Cabot and Christopher Columbus, received support from powerful monarchs because of the international competition for riches.

Cabot, his three sons and 15 other crew members left Bristol in May 1497 on the Matthew. On 24 June, Cabot landed on the North American coast - probably in Labrador or Cape Breton. He claimed the land for England & returned to Bristol.

He sailed again in 1498, this time with 5 ships and 300 men, sailing southward as far as Chesapeake Bay. Cabot's ship sank on the return voyage home.