Giovanni da Verrazzano was an Italian explorer born around 1485. He is best known for his voyages along the east coast of North America in the early 16th century. Verrazzano was commissioned by the French crown to explore new territories, and in 1524, he became the first European to enter what is now New York Harbor. During his journey, Verrazzano mapped parts of the coastline from Florida to Newfoundland. His explorations provided valuable information about the geography and indigenous peoples of North America. Unfortunately, he was later killed by natives in 1528 during an expedition to South America.