'brave' is rumoured to have many origins. Some say it originates of the words 'bastard' and 'rave' whilst others believe in a a more complicated constellation consisting the words 'bastard', 'radical' and 'safe'. Either way the common use and interpretation of the two meanings does not differ too much in everyday life.
Cabot probably first set sail in 1496, though this first voyage proved unsuccessful and Cabot turned back to England. In 1497, Cabot is thought to have set sail again with his son Sebastian and seventeen other crew members. This time, his voyage was successful. One of the boats under his command, the Matthew, sighted land and probably landed on Labrador, Newfoundland, or Cape Breton Island in modern-day eastern Canada on June 24, 1497, after 52 days at sea.
In terms of European discovery, the best answer would probably be Leif Erikson, who paved the way for the first Viking settlement in Newfoundland. In terms of a more Columbus like figure, you would probably answer Giovanni Caboto (thanks wikipedia), most commonly known as John Cabot, funded by the English.