Biography

    Columbus,an Italian Mariner and Navigator was very widely believed to have been the first European to sail across the Atlantic Ocean and actually land on part of an American Continent. Christopher Columbus, was not always Christopher Columbus, he was born Christoforo Columbo, then taking up the Spanish form Cristobal Colon before finally settling on Christopher Columbus. He was born between August and October 1451, in Genoa Italy. Columbus was the eldest son of Domenica Columbo who made his living as a wool-maker and a small-scale merchant. His mother was Susanna Fontanarossa. He had 2 younger brothers, Bartholomew and Diego. Columbus recieved very little formal education which forced him to be a self-taught man. He taught himself to read Latin and to write Castilian.

      Christopher Columbus began working at sea early on. He made his first considerable voyage to the Aegan Island of Chios 1475. An unfortunate tragedy happened one time just off Cape St. Vincent. His ship got wrecked, but fortunately he was able to swim ashore. He then moved to Lisbon, Portugal where his brother Bartholomew lived. Columbus had always had dreams to make a fortune at sea, and had always wanted to pursue them. In 1477 Columbus sailed to England and Ireland, possibly Iceland in a Portuguese Marine.

      Columbus got married in 1479 to Felipa E Moniz. She was from a noble Portuguese family. Their son, Diego was born in 1480. Felipa died in 1485 unfortunately. Columbus met another woman though, Beatriz Enriquez de Harana of Cordoba. He then had a second son named Ferdinand. He and Beatriz never married, although he left her shares in his will.

      By the mid 1480's Columbus became focused on trying to find Asia. In 1484 Columbus asked King John III of Portugal to back his voyage west. Unfortunatly he refused to back him up. The following year Columbus went to Spain with his older son, Diego to try and get the aid of Queen Isabela and King Ferinand of Aragon. Though they granted him only a small annuitty to live on. He still remained hopeful though. In January 1492, his wish was granted, he obtained the support of Isabela and Ferdinand.

     On August 3rd 1492 three ships were set out, The Nina, The Pinta and the Santa Maria. They left from Palos on the Tinto River, south of Spain. The records of the voyage remained fair throughout. The first official sighting of land came at dawn on October 12. (Columbus thought that he, aboard the Nina was the first to see the land. Later evidence showed that the first sighting came from aboard the Pinta.) The place of the first landfall was probably in San Salvador or Watling Island in Bahamas.

      The three ships sailed around and among the Bahama's Islands. They landed at Cuba, which Columbus convinced himself that Cuba was the mainland of the great Cathay. (China) He also thought that Hispaniola was Cipango (Japan). Well anyways the land was very rich with gold and other natural resources. Columbus returned to Spain with enough riches to convince his friends of success.

       Columbus frequently appeared before Queen Isabela and King Ferdinand. He displayed: gold, exotic birds, herbs, spices and even human captives that he had brought from the new world. He easily persuaded them into a second voyage- this time with with 17 ships and 1,300 men. They left Cadiz on September 25 1493.

        Columbus searched the coastline of Cuba and Jamaica for various sorts of gold. In conclusion Columbus thought that Hispaniola was the richest, having the richest source of other spoils.

        In February 1492, 12 ships returned from Spain to La Isabela, with Columbus's associate Antonia de Torres in charge. People with Columbus;s approval captured many Natives and made them servants.

        In March 1496, Columbus left for Spain and left his two brothers, Diego and Bartholomew in charge of Hispaniola. He headed off to the new world with 6 ships, 3 full with provisions to settle in Hispaniola. It was his third voyage.

      Columbus got taken into custody near 1500. Queen Isabela and Kind Ferdinand demanded and early departure though.

      Columbus went out on a fourth voyage, but could not make it very far. He camped in Jamaica for 1 year and then returned to Spain, to find his best supporter, Queen Isabela on her deathbed. She died shortly.

        After Columbus's final voyage, he was in bad condition and was suffering of arthritis, as well as the after effects of a bout of malaria. He lived comfortly in Seville for his last year. He died in Vallidad on May 20 1506. The United States celebrates Columbus Day on the closest Monday to October 12, which was the date of his first landfall in May, 1492.