On this day (August 3) in 1527, the first English-language letter known to be sent from North America was dispatched by John Rut while at St. John’s, Newfoundland.
[This] third day of August we entered into a good harbour called St. John and there we found Eleuen Saile of Normans and one Brittaine and two Portugal barks all a fishing and so we are ready to depart towards Cap de Bras that is 25 leagues as shortly as we have fished and so along the Coast until we may meete with our fellowe