Christopher Columbus

Born in 1451, Columbus started sailing when he was fourteen. As his knowledge of the sea grew, Columbus became convinced that he could reach Asia by sailing west instead of east, which was not believed possible at that time. After several attempts at seeking support for the voyage, the King and the Queen of Spain finally agreed to help. By the time he was ready to sail in 1492, Columbus was forty-four. On the way, he and his crew landed on an island in the Caribbean Sea, near what is now America. He was convinced that he had found the lands that led to Asia, and explored the area several times during his life. Sadly, Columbus never lived to see Asia and died in 1506.