Hugh Eliot

A merchant of Bristol, Hugh Eliot is claimed to be along with Robert Thorne the Elder, the English discoverer of America.

Little is known about his life. From 1492 onwards Eliot was engaged in trading to France, Spain and elsewhere. Due to his prominence he was elected sheriff of Bristol in 1500-1501.

Robert Thorne the Younger claimed in 1527 that his father, Robert Thorne the Elder and Hugh Eliot were “discoverers of the New Found Landes”. It is often considered that two of them have accompanied John Cabot in 1497 and that they made their discovery after they caught sight of land. However, it is known that in 1502 Eliot, Robert Thorne, and William Thorne bought a ship at Dieppe, perhaps intended for an American enterprise. In that same year, the name of Hugh Eliot appeared in the charter granted by Henry VII to group of entrepreneurs including him, Thomas Asshehurst, João Gonsales, and Francisco Fernandes to continue the voyages to North America. The purpose was to continue the voyages begun in 1501 by the Anglo-Portuguese “Company Adventurers into the New Found Lands.”

Although it is not certain if he actually sailed to the New World himself or he only invested money and shipping, Eliot continued to be active in the company while it lasted.