Columbus Day: 7 interesting facts about the famed explorer

1. Had extensive experience as a sailor and merchant

Also known as Cristoforo Colombo and Cristobal Colon, Christopher Columbus was born at some point in 1451 in the Italian province of Genoa, though his exact birthdate and birthplace are unknown.

The son of a professional wool weaver and gatekeeper, Columbus had four siblings, two of whom, Bartolomé and Diego, would participate in his exploration career.

Before 1492, Columbus had extensive experience as a sailor and merchant, having traveled as far away as Iceland in the north and to the Gold Coast of West Africa to the south.

“Christopher had little formal education, having become an apprentice at sea at about age ten, not entirely surprising in the great port city of Genoa. His knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, and Latin came with experience,” wrote Daniel Scavone of Ebsco.com in 2022.

“By 1484, his hair prematurely white, he had conceived the plan for a great empresa de las Indias (enterprise of the Indies).”