Hugh Eliot (fl.1485-c.1518) was a fifteenth-century Bristol merchant who was involved in the port's early Atlantic exploration voyages to North America.
[6] Writing in 1578, Queen Elizabeth's chief advisor on scientific matters, John Dee, claimed that Robert Thorne and Hugh Eliot made this discovery in 1494.
Eliot's involvement in the Bristol exploration voyages of the years 1501-5, along with Robert Thorne and his brother, William, is better documented.
Eliot was also the one who claimed, on behalf of the explorers, the right to import merchandise from the new land free of customs duties, which in their case consisted of fish.
[13] At some time between 1502 and 1504 Eliot also received a reward of £100 from Henry VII towards his costs for sailing two ships to the 'Isle of new finding'.
[15] It is unclear whether they undertook an expedition in 1503, albeit they may have done, given that the king's household books recorded the receipt of Hawks 'from the newe founden Ilande’ in November 1503.
There was certainly another expedition in 1504, organised by Eliot and Thorne, which included their ship, the Gabriel, along with another vessel called the Jesus of Bristol.
[22] The surviving Bristol customs account for 1503/4 refers to goods he imported or exported to Andalusia, Algarve and Ireland worth £164.