The term 'Labrador Explorer' refers to the Italian explorer John Cabot, who is credited with discovering the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1497. Cabot was commissioned by King Henry VII of England to explore the New World and find a route to Asia. He sailed from Bristol, England, and landed on the coast of North America, becoming the first European to explore the region. Cabot's exploration of the area laid the groundwork for the eventual colonization of Canada by the British.