Columbus, Christopher

(about 1436-1506), the discoverer of America, was born probably at Genoa, in Italy, about 1436. His early life was pa ed at sea, interspersed with work asa maker of maps and charts, About 1470 he went to Lisbon, and engaged in voyages to Guinea and probably visited Iceland. He became acquainted with the map of To scan ell i and the results of geographical investigation, and planned the discovery of a short route to China, Japan and the Indies. As his project was rejected by the King of Portugal, he followed the court of Ferdinand and Isabella, setting forth his schemes at Cordova, Salamanca, Malaga and elsewhere, but he failed to enlist support until after the fall of Granada in 1492. Having obtained authority from the sovereigns and financial aid, he sailed with his fleet of three caravels, the “Santa Maria,” ‘‘ Pinta ’’ and “ Nifia,’”’ from Palos on August 3, 1492. He held a westerly course, quelled insubordination, and reached land in; the Bahama group October 12, 1492; the island of the landfall may have been Watling’s or Samana Island. He further discovered Cuba and Hayti, and arrived home after severe vici itudes in March, 1493. In the following autumn he sailed with a larger expedition, and remained in the West Indies until 1496. On his third voyage in 1498, he reached the mainland at the mouth of the Orinoco, rightly surmising that he had found a continent, though still fancying himself on the eastern coast of Asia. Proceeding to the West Indies he was imprisoned by enemies and sent in chains to Spain, but was soon released. In his fourth voyage, t§02 to 1504, he explored the coast of Central America. He survived his patron Isabella a short time, dying at Valladolid, in Spain, May 20, 1506. There is a well-known biography by Irving, and recent lives by Harri e and Winsor, the last being distinctly unfavorable.