Giovanni Caboto, known as John Cabot in English, was an Italian explorer born around 1450. He is best known for his 1497 voyage to North America, which was commissioned by King Henry VII of England. Caboto's journey is significant because it marked one of the first European explorations of the North American mainland since the Vikings. Caboto's expedition aimed to find a westward route to Asia, but instead, he landed on the coast of what is now Canada. His discoveries contributed to the later English claims in North America and opened the door for further exploration and colonization by European powers.