Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, the son of a wool weaver, and went to sea young. He settled in Portugal, sailed to Africa and the Atlantic islands, and became convinced he could reach Asia by sailing west. Most scholars thought the distance far greater than he claimed, and they were right. After years of refusals, Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain agreed to back him. In August 1492 he sailed with three ships, the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa María, and on 12 October landed on an island in the Bahamas. He went on to Cuba and Hispaniola, believing he was near Asia. He made three more voyages, reaching the coast of South and Central America. As governor of Hispaniola he ruled harshly, and the native Taíno people suffered forced labor, violence and disease; in 1500 complaints led to his arrest and return to Spain in chains, though he was later released. He died in Valladolid in 1506, still believing he had reached Asia.

Faith: A Catholic who said the conversion of non-believers was one reason for his voyages; he grew increasingly religious in his later years. Source: Wikipedia