Christopher Columbus

posthumous portrait of Christopher Columbus c. 1519, by Sebastiano del Piombo, oil on canvas, 00.18.2, Metropolitan Museum of Art, online collection (The Met object ID 437645)

Birth Name: Cristoforo Colombo

Date of Birth: before 31 October, 1451

Place of Birth: Genoa, Republic of Genoa (present-day Italy)

Date of Death: 20 May, 1506

Place of Death: Valladolid, Crown of Castile (present-day Spain)

Ethnicity: Italian

Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer, navigator, and colonizer. While attempting to reach India from Europe via the Atlantic Ocean, under the auspices of the Spanish monarchs, he discovered America (although he was not the first European to reach the continent). This led to the colonization of the Americas by western European countries. He was the 1st Governor of the Indies, from 1492 to 1499. He was the 1st Governor of the Indies, from 1492 to 1499.

Christopher was the son of Susanna (Fontanarossa) and Domenico Colombo. His father was born in Genoa, Italy. His mother was born in Bisagno, Italy. He was married to Portuguese noblewoman Filipa Moniz Perestrelo, until her death. He had a son with Filipa, and a son with his partner, Beatriz Enríquez de Arana.

Cristopher’s paternal grandfather was named Giovanni Colombo (the son of Lucas Colombo). Giovanni was born in Chiavari, Italy. Lucas was the son of Antonio Colombo.

Christopher’s paternal grandmother was born in Quinto, Italy.

Christopher’s maternal grandfather was named Giacomo Fontanarrosa. Giacomo was born in Bisagno, Italy.

Christopher’s religion was Roman Catholic.

He is sometimes speculated to have been of Jewish origin. It is not clear if this is accurate. His ancestry has also sometimes been speculated to have been Greek, Portuguese, Polish, and/or Catalan, among others.

Source: Genealogy of Christopher Columbus – http://www.geni.com