Verrazzano, Giovanni da, << `vehr` uh ZAH noh, joh VAHN ee dah >> (1485?-1528?), was an Italian navigator in the service of France. He sailed to North America in 1524. On the voyage, he sought the Northwest Passage to China. He did not find the passage. But he explored the eastern coast of North America from the Carolinas to Newfoundland. Verrazzano later made two more voyages to the New World. Historians believe that during the second of these voyages, he was killed by Indians in the Caribbean.
Verrazzano was born near Florence. His family name is sometimes spelled Verrazano. See also Great-circle route ; New York (Exploration and settlement) ; North Carolina (Exploration and settlement) ; Rhode Island (Exploration) .
