| description: | Discovery Of Canada. John Cabot, Born In Genoa, Italy, And Apprenticed To A Great Trading House In Venice, Wanted To See The Far East. He Thought The Earth Was Round And Was Determined To Sail West Across The Atlantic In Search To The Route. King Henry Vii (Of England) And The Merchants Of Bristol Financed His Voyages To Find Such A Route But He Was Unsuccessful. In 1493, Word Reached England That Christopher Columbus Had Discovered America The Year Before. So Cabot Decided To Try Again. In 1497 With A Crew Of 18 Aboard The Tiny Ship "Mathew" & His Son Sebastian He Reached What He Thought Was The Coast Of Asia. Actually It Was The Coast Of What Is Now Canada. The Cross Of St. George (Flag) Was Unfurled There And Thus John Cabot And His Son Sebastian Planted The First British Flag On North America. Image From A Painting By J.K. Kelly |