Bartholomew Gosnold

I noticed a plaque commemorating this guy on a run today. I didn’t know anything about him, which now amazes me in light of the fact that:

1. He was the first European to come to the Cape (in 1602).
2. He coined the name “Cape Cod”.
3. He famously stopped in Woods Hole, on his way to Martha’s Vineyard (which he also named, probably after his daughter).
4. An account of his voyage is what inspired many other sailors to come to the area.

How did I not know anything about this guy, considering how much I love local history? I think the answer is that I don’t usually look back quite that far, because there aren’t pictures to look at :-)