Giovanni da Verrazzano

Giovanni da Verrazzano was an Italian explorer who sailed for the country of France. He was born in Florence Italy in 1485. He was hired to sail for King Francis 1 of France.Although he made three trips to the New World, only the first trip of 1524 landed in North America. He is considered an important explorer of North America because he is considered the first European since the Vikings to explore the Atlantic coast of North America between North and South Carolina and all of the land up to Newfoundland including New York harbour and Narragansett Bay.

King Francis 1 Verrazzano’s journey to the new world actually began in 1523. King Francis 1 of France gave him instructions to explore North America from Florida all the way to Newfoundland with the number one goal of finding a sea route to China. Verrazzano began his journey in 1523 with four ships. But a violent storm caused two of his ships to sink and heavy damage to the other two ships. He returned to France for repairs.

The two ships set sail again in late 1523 but one ship had to return for more repairs. Verrazzano continued the journey on board his ship called La Dauphine and arrived off the coast of North America in the spring of 1524.

Verrazzano map of North America

Verrazzano successfully explored the area but was completely wrong about what he saw. He believed that the entrance to the Hudson River was really the beginning of the Pacific Ocean and a quick route to Asia. When he did return to France, his incorrect facts caused map makers to draw North America almost completely wrong. It would take hundreds of years for a more accurate map to be drawn.

He named this new land Francesca after the King of France. Historians aren’t sure why his name for North America never stuck. Verrazzano’s brother labelled the area Nova Gallia (New France) on the maps he drew for Verrazano. It would continue to be called New France after this and the name Francesca would be forgotten.

Verrazano Bridge in New York City

Verrazzano’s second journey

Verrazano’s second and third journeys took him to South America (mostly Brazil) and to the Caribbean islands.He supposedly died when he rowed a small boat to the island of Guadeloupe. The Carib Natives on the island killed and ate Verrazano…probably for dinner.