In 1484, Columbus made his first attempt in finding a sponsor for his dream of searching for a trade route to India by asking King Ferdinand of Spain, but is refused. Just a year later Felipa died of consumption. Distraught, Columbus moved to Cadiz in Spain where he opens another shop, continuing his work as a cartographer.
In 1486, just a year after the death of his first wife, Columbus remarries to Dona Beatriz Enriquez. For a second try, he submits his plans to the Spanish court but still receives no patronage. A year later he tries twice, this time to King Henry VII of England and King Charles VIII of France but neither take up his offer. In 1488 Columbus and Dona have a son named Ferdinand.
The crew sets off again, and on October 28th, about two weeks later, they reached Cuba. Then on December 5th, the Santa Maria sunk off the coast of Hispaniola. But on the bright side, he still managed to establish the first Spanish settlement in the New World. Finally, on January 6th, 1493, Columbus set sail for home.
On March 5th Columbus arrived back in Palos Spain bringing his story of the New World. Thrilled, the King and Queen allow him to go on a second expedition, this time bringing 16 ships and over 1500 men (including Juan Ponce de Leon). During this trip, Columbus mainly explores Hispaniola although he also sets up another Spanish settlement in Haiti. On September 19th, 1494 Columbus returns to Spain.
Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa in October, 1451 to Domenico Colombo and Susanna Fontanarossa. When Columbus was in his teens, he became a sailor until his ship was attacked by French privateers as it sailed along the Portuguese coast.
The boat sank but Columbus swam to shore, aided by a scrap of wood. Afterwards, made his way to Lisbon where he became a cartographer along with his brother Bartholomew. This is where he began to shape the plan that would reshape the world.
While in Portugal Columbus met Felipa Perestrello Moniz, who he married in 1479. As it turns out, Felipa's father was involved in the discovery of the Madeira Islands so when they married Felipa gave Columbus her father's charts of the winds and currents of the Portuguese possessions in the atlantic. in 1480, they had a son named Diego Colon.
Stubborn and desperate, in 1491, Columbus appeals to King Ferdinand for the second time only to get the same answer he got the first time. But this time, a Priest called Father Perez comes and pleads to King Ferdinand and his Wife, Queen Isabella to fund Columbus on his excursion, saying that he could help convert natives to Christianity. Due to the priest's statements, a year later King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain agree to fund Columbus's cause.
On September 8th, 1492 Columbus finally began his journey taking three ships: the Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Nina. The ships carried 120 men and all of their supplies. By October 11th, there is near Mutiny of the Crew but luckily, land is spotted taking the three ships Watling's Island in the Bahamas.
It took four years, but on May 30th, 1498 Columbus went on his 4th voyage to the New World, this time taking with him only six ships. On July 31 Columbus landed at the Cape Verde Islands. Because Columbus was the first European to land in South America, when news spread about problems in the Spanish Settlements he was criticized and ordered to be investigated by a man named Francesco de Bobadilla. When Bobadilla arrived on August 24th 1500 he had Columbus and his brothers imprisoned and sent back to Spain, not liking how they considered themselves the "rulers of the new world."
Luckily, the people of Spain didn't like what Bobadilla did to Columbus and his brothers, so they got back all the privileges that they lost and decided to set off for a fourth voyage. On May 11th, 1502 they set out with the four ships: the Santa Maria, the Gallega, the Vizcaina, and the Santiago de Palos. This was his final voyage, so when he went back to Spain on November 7th 1504, all that was left for Columbus was death. On May 20th, 1506 Christopher Columbus died in Valladolid at the Spanish Court.