Born 1451,
Genoa, Italy
Died May 20, 1506,
Valladolid, Spain

The life of Christopher Columbus is one of contrasts—great triumphs marked by even greater defeats. Despite Columbus’s downfall in his own time and the divided reaction to the five hundredth anniversary of his voyage in the United States, Columbus was an accomplished seaman who crossed the Atlantic Ocean using his own genius in a daring feat.

Columbus was born Cristoforo Colombo, the son of Domencio Colombo and Suzanna Fontanarossa in Genoa, Italy, some time in the fall of 1451. For at least three generations his family had lived in Genoa, where they manufactured and traded woolen fabrics. Little is known about Columbus’s early life. He, his three brothers, and their sister possibly received some education through their father’s guild. More than likely, Columbus was ashamed of his humble origins. In 1479, to improve...