NAVIGATORS
Giovanni DaVerrazano
(also spelled Verrazzano)
Giovanni da Verrazano (also spelled Verrazzano) was born
in Tuscany, Italy in 1485 and died in 1528 in the Lesser Antilles. He was a
Florentine explorer sailing under the French flag. He was the first European to
sight New York and Narragansett bays.
While growing up in Florence, Verrazano received an
excellent education. Later he moved to Dieppe in France and entered the
French maritime service. He traveled several times to the Levant. In 1523,
Francis I agreed to provide Verrazano with two ships to set sail and
discover the westward
passage to Asia. In January of 1524, Verrazano set sail, his vessel being
named
La Dauphine (a
term traditionally used
to refer to the eldest son
of the king - the individual immediately in line to the throne).
In early March he arrived at Cape Fear in North Carolina. He then continued northward, exploring the eastern seaboard of North America as far as Nova Scotia. He made several discoveries including New York Bay, Block Island and Narragansett Bay. He was also the first European explorer to name newly discovered North American sites after persons and placed in the Old World.
Without question, Verrazano was the first European to enter what is today New York harbor in 1524. It was another 85 years, in 1609, that Henry Hudson, sailing on behalf of the Dutch East India Company and the individual usually associated with the discovery, would again sail a European vessel into the area.
Virtually unknown, Verrazano was raised from obscurity by the efforts of John N. LaCorte, founder of the Italian Historical Society of America, who was instrumental in having the bridge spanning the entrance to New York Harbor at the narrows and joining Staten Island and Brooklyn named the Verrazano Bridge.
The Italian Historical Society was also responsible for the placement of the placement of the Verrazano Monument in Battery Park, New York. The monument is presently in storage and will be re-placed in the Battery Park complex.
In early March he arrived at Cape Fear in North Carolina. He then continued northward, exploring the eastern seaboard of North America as far as Nova Scotia. He made several discoveries including New York Bay, Block Island and Narragansett Bay. He was also the first European explorer to name newly discovered North American sites after persons and placed in the Old World.
Without question, Verrazano was the first European to enter what is today New York harbor in 1524. It was another 85 years, in 1609, that Henry Hudson, sailing on behalf of the Dutch East India Company and the individual usually associated with the discovery, would again sail a European vessel into the area.
Virtually unknown, Verrazano was raised from obscurity by the efforts of John N. LaCorte, founder of the Italian Historical Society of America, who was instrumental in having the bridge spanning the entrance to New York Harbor at the narrows and joining Staten Island and Brooklyn named the Verrazano Bridge.
The Italian Historical Society was also responsible for the placement of the placement of the Verrazano Monument in Battery Park, New York. The monument is presently in storage and will be re-placed in the Battery Park complex.
