COUSIN, Jean (coo-zang), French navigator, born in Dieppe, lived in the latter part of the 15th century. His discoveries are related by Louis Estancelin in his "Recherches sur les voyages et decouvertes des navigateurs Normands en Afrique, dans les Indes Orientales, et en Amerique" (Paris, 1832), Leon Gudrin in his "Les navigateurs Frangais" (Paris, 1846), and Amans Alexis Nonteil in his "Traite des materiaux manuscrits des divers genres d'histoire" (2 vols., Paris, 1835), and confirmed by the anonymous publication "Memoires pour servir a l'histoire de Dieppe" (Dieppe, 1740), and by Francis Parkman in his " Pioneers of France in the New World" (Boston, 1860). According to these authorities, in 1488, four years before Columbus's voyage, Cousin, being at sea off the African coast, was forced westward by winds and currents to within sight of an unknown shore, where he presently descried the mouth of a great river (probably the Orinoco). On board his ship was one Pinzon, who, being dismissed for mutinous conduct, went to Spain, became known to Columbus, and accompanied him in his voyage of 1492 Cousin's discovery is also mentioned in the "Journal de l'Amerique" (Troyes, 1709) and in "Description des cotes de la met Oceane." It is also said that a French pilot discovered America. Unfortunately, the archives of the city of Dieppe were destroyed during the bombardment of 1694, and no information is now to be obtained there about Cousin's voyage to America, a narrative of which was undoubtedly deposited in the city archives.