New lands found! They shall be creatively named: Newfoundland.
On this day, the 24 June 1497, the Italian explorer Giovanni Cabot discovered new lands west of Ireland, under the patronage of King Henry VII of England.
Cabot was the first western explorer to make landfall in America since the Vinland arrival around 1000 AD.
He left from Bristol, with both the intent of finding new lands for the King, but also with the intent of discovering the mythical isle of Hy-Brasil, a place of Irish legend.
He did not find Hy-Brasil, instead making landfall across the Atlantic somewhere on the northeastern coast. The exact location is not known, but the town of Bonavista, Newfoundland has been designated as the site.
Upon his successful return to England, he was awarded ten whole pounds! (two years wages at that time, so not an insignificant amount) His landing on the northern lands was a major success story, and validated the funding of further expeditions much akin to Christopher Columbus.
