Giovanni da Verrazzano

Giovanni da Verrazzano
Born1491
Val di Greve, Republic of Florence
(present-day Tuscany, Italy)
Died1528 (aged 36–37)
Unclear; possibly Guadeloupe
(uncolonized)
Other names
  • Janus Verrazanus
  • Jehan de Verrazane
OccupationExplorer
Parents
  • Frosino da Verrazzano (father)
  • Lisabetta Daffi (mother)
Signature

Giovanni da Verrazzano (/ˌvɛrəˈzɑːn, -ətˈsɑː-/ VERR-ə-ZAH-noh, -⁠ət-SAH-, Italian: [dʒoˈvanni da (v)verratˈtsaːno]; often misspelled Verrazano in English; 1491–1528) was an Italian explorer from the Republic of Florence, best known for his expedition to North America. He led most of his later missions, including the one to America, in the service of King Francis I of France.

He is renowned as the first European to ever explore the Atlantic coast of North America between Florida and New Brunswick in 1524, including New York Bay and Narragansett Bay.