Verrazano, Giovanni du

   Born near Florence, Italy, in 1470. Entered French marine service, 1495. Credited with visiting the coast of America, 1508. In 1523 sent by Francis I to explore to the westward. The following year arrived with La Dauphine off the coast of North America, and explored from Florida to Newfoundland, taking possession of the latter island in the name of the king of France. Landed at a point near Cape Fear, and discovered the bays of Narragansett and New York. Nothing is known of his latter years, beyond the fact that he was in Paris, at least as late as Dec. 24, 1527, fitting out an expedition of five ships to sail the following March. Verrazano's claim to the discovery of the mouth of the Hudson, questioned by Murphy, has been re-established by the discovery in Rome of a hitherto unknown version of the explorer's report of his voyage. See Bacchiani's article, with facsimile, in the Bollettiano of the Italian Geographical Society, November, 1909.

   Index: Ch His discovery of the coast of North America, 211.

   Bib.: Murphy, Voyage of Verrazano; De Costa, Verrazano, the Explorer.