Biografia

• Born Christobal Colon in Genoa, Italy. His birth place was claimed by 15 cities in Italy. His year of birth has been variously reported as 1446, 1447, 1449 or 1451. He went to sea at age 14. He was a pirate in the 1470's. He worked as a cartographer about 1476. Married Felipe Moniz de Perestrello ca. 1478. They had a son about a year later. He had two illegitimate sons by Beatriz Enriques.  

  Columbus believed that India could be reached by sailing west. He sought financial backing in Portugal but was rejected. Spain was more receptive to the idea but it took six years to get approval.  

  He sailed to discover America and found it October 12, 1492. He was appointed governor of the colonies. He made four round trips to the new world. He landed on what are now known as North and South America, Cuba, Guadaloupe, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad. Management of the properties proved to be as difficult as the discovery. The colonies did not produce the desired profits. He died in Spain.  

  The 400th anniversary of his discovery was honored with the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The exposition came shortly after an economical way had been found to refine aluminum. Many aluminum medals were produced as well as items using the more traditional metals. Columbus appears on the Columbian Half Dollar issued for the 400th anniversary celebration. The obverse was by Charles E. Barber and reverse by George T. Morgan. Collectors had not gotten excited over commemorative coins and failed to buy out the 2.5 million pieces issued. The unsold pieces were released into circulation at face value.  

  Columbus appears on paper money:  

  $1 Legal Tender Note, series of 1869, 1874, 1875, 1878, 1880, 1917

  $5 National Bank Note, series of 1875  

  $1000 Legal Tender Issue of 1869, 1878 and 1880. 

  bio:ApCAB; Drake; EAB;NCAB 3; TCBA; WAB'WWWA-H,

  CW:WW 4/16/2001

Data da morte

• 1506-05-20

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