GIOVANNI DE VERRAZANO
Giovanni de Verrazano was a Florentine navigator who originated in Val di Greve. Born in 1470, Verrazano lived until 1527 when he died in Puerto del Pico or Newfoundland. When Verrazano was just 25 years of age, he decided to join the French maritime service, becoming employed to set out on voyages of discovery. According to historians, he headed to the northern coast of America in 1508 although apparently no accounts of discoveries have been found.
Verrazano later began working to devour both Portuguese and Spanish possessions in the West and East Indies. With this, Verrazano made a name for himself as corsair. Then in 1521, he took possession of impressive valuables while in the West Indies and just one year later, captured Hernan Cortes’ ship that was being sent to Mexico full of treasures. Just two years later, Verrazano left Dieppe aboard La Dauphine, working for Francis I who was the King of France. Their goal was to learn more about the coast of North America so they sailed from Madeira in January of 1524, arriving a month later.
During the next three months, Verrazano and his crew explored the land near Cape Fear, discovering the Narragansett and New York Bays. Landing in Newfoundland, he claimed many valuable possessions in the name of Francis I, setting his heart and mind on finding a way to the East Indies from the northwest. While returning to Dieppe, Verrazano wrote a special memoir to the king, telling about his many discoveries although his information was a bit confusing.
Interestingly, history tells us very little about the remaining years of Verrazano’s life. However, a number of references indicate that Indians killed him in Newfoundland while on a voyage for exploration. We do know that he spoke with people in England with a map of his discoveries. Then in 1876, a document was found that proved he had executed a power of attorney to his brother, Geronimo in 1527 just before sailing to the East Indies. This particular document stated that while Verrazano was on a voyage, he was captured on Spain’s southern coast.
Then in the 19th century, a discovery was made in the Strozzi Library at Florence. There, a manuscript copy of Verrazano’s letters were found, which contained additional writings. Published in transactions of the New York historical society in 1841, some of the documents were signed by the brother, Geronimo. In one, the brother called the land Nuova Gallia quale discopri, e annos fa, Giovanni de Verrazano Fiorentino. Additional documents have been discovered in the French archives, proving that Giovanni de Verrazano did in fact discover North America’s northern coast.