Giovanni da Verrazano was born in Greve in Chianti, Italy. In the early 1500s, Verrazano gained an interest in the navy's mission and tactics; he began sailing as a pirate and became determined to find a passage to the Orient. Verrazano took part of France's Francis I's naval service.
The Voyage
In the 1520s, Verrazano prepared his ship, Delfina which is named after the King's firstborn daughter, to partake with three other ships on an eight month voyage to discover a quicker route to the Orient. Only La Dauphine had surpassed the voyage, managing to have enough supplies and avoid becoming shipwrecked. Cape Fear, North Carolina was the first sight of land Verrazano came across; but Verrazano continued traveling north of the coast.
In the middle of April 1524, Verrazano entered New York's Bay, the southern area of Manhattan. La Dauphine casted anchor in between Staten Island and Long Island; Verrazano and his crew spent the night in Martha's Vineyard to pass a servere storm. After the storm, Verrazano rested in Newport, Rhode Island where he interacted with natives to learn more about the lands. La Dauphine returned to France and Verrazano in July 1524 to report to the King and declare the New World for France.
In 1556, Ramusio, an Italian geographer and writer, published letters he received from Verrazano that he kept as logs to document his voyage to the New World. The letters provided locations and descriptions of New York Bay, the harbor and what is known today as the Hudson River.
The Legacy
During Giovanna da Verrazano's 1524 voyage, he discovered a harbor which he named 'Angouleme.' We know this harbor by Manhattan. A bronze monument was set up in 1901 by countrymen, that were involved in the Hudson-Fulton Celebration, in honor of Verrazano. It was located in Battery Park, facing the river; it is now in storage.
Although there is confusion between Giovanni da Verrazano and Henry Hudson, Verrazano is credited for discovering Manhattan and entering New York Bay.
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