Columbus. I. Christopher, the discoverer of America, born in Genoa, Italy, died in Valla-dolid, Spain, May 20, 1506. The time of his birth is uncertain. The earliest date given (1430), derived from a statement of Ramusio, is irreconcilable with admitted facts, and must be set aside. Peschel has recently endeavored to show that he was born in 1456, the ultimate evidence for which is a letter of Columbus, dated in 1503, stating that he was then 48 years of age) This is so much at variance with admitted facts that it seems probable that there is an error in writing (48 for 58, or even 68). Between 1435 and 1449 there is hardly a year which has not been fixed upon by different authors. Bernaldez, whose intimate connection with Columbus gives special weight to his statement, says that he died "at the age of 70 years (setenta anos), a little more or less." This would fix the date at 1435 or 1436, which has been generally accepted. But D'Avezac has recently argued that instead of 70 (setenta) years should be read 60 (sesenta), and presents plausible reasons for the alteration. This would give the date of his birth at 1445 or 1446. Either date, 1435-'36, or 1445-'6, is reconcilable with ascertained data.

According to the custom of the time, he Latinized his name of Cristoforo Colombo into Columbus, and when he went to Spain adopted the Spanish form of it, Cristobal Colon. He was the eldest son of Domenico Colombo, a wool comber, and Susanna Fontanarossa. They had two other sons, Bartolommeo and Giacomo (the latter called in Spain Diego), and a daughter. Columbus having early evinced a decided inclination for the sea, his education was mainly directed to fit him for maritime life. Besides the ordinary branches, he was instructed in Latin, and made some proficiency in drawing. For a short time he was sent to the university of Pavia, where he studied geometry, geography, astronomy, and navigation. He then returned to Genoa, and assisted his father in his trade of wool-combing. When about 14 years of age he began his nautical career with a distant relative of the same name, an admiral in the Genoese service. Little is known of Columbus during the many years he spent at sea. He is supposed to have served in the naval expedition fitted out in Genoa in 1459 by John of Anjou, duke of Calabria, to make a descent upon Naples in the hope of recovering that kingdom for his father, King Rene; but he appears to have been principally engaged in commercial voyages on the Mediterranean and up the Levant. About 1470 he went to Lisbon, where he supported himself by making maps and charts.

He also sailed occasionally in the expeditions to the coast of Guinea. Soon after he had settled at Lisbon he married Dofla Felipa, daughter of Bartolommeo Mofiis de Perestrello, an Italian cavalier, lately deceased, who had been one of the most distinguished navigators under Prince Henry, and had colonized and governed the island of Porto Santo. Columbus now resided for some time on that island, where his wife had inherited some property, and where his son Diego was born. Here he studied the papers, charts, and journals which had been left by his father-in-law; and here he was brought into association with persons interested in maritime discovery, among whom was Pedro Correo, a navigator of note, who had married the sister of the wife of Columbus. Columbus determined upon sailing west, not to discover a new continent, but to reach India by a new route; and his confidence in the practicability of this project was greatly enhanced by the recent application of the astrolabe to navigation His theory, according to his son Fernando, was founded upon the nature of things, the authority of learned writers, and the reports of navigators.

He set down as a fundamental axiom that the earth was a terraqueous sphere or globe, the circumference of which from east to west at the equator he divided into 24 hours of 15 degrees each, making 360 degrees. Comparing the globe of Ptolemy with the earliest map of Marinus of Tyre, he concluded that 15 hours had been known to the ancients, extending from the Canary islands to the city of Thinae in Asia; and that the Portuguese had advanced the western frontier one hour more, by the discovery of the Azores and the Cape Verd islands; leaving 8 hours, or one third of the circumference of the earth, unknown and unexplored. This space might in a great measure be occupied by the eastern regions of Asia; and by pursuing a direct course from east to west through the intervening ocean, a navigator would arrive at the extremity of that country. This supposition was corroborated by the narratives of Marco Polo and John Mandeville, who in the 13th and 14th centuries had visited the remote parts of Asia, far beyond the regions laid down by Ptolemy; and also by the opinion of Strabo, who believed that the earth was surrounded by the ocean which washed India on the east and Spain and Mauritania on the west. Moreover, various indications of land in the west had been found.

A Portuguese pilot had taken from the water, 450 leagues west of Portugal, a piece of curiously carved wood, while a similar piece which had drifted from the same quarter was seen on the island of Porto Santo. Canes of tropical growth had been washed on the Madeiras, huge pine trees on the Azores, and even two drowned men, of appearance unlike Europeans, had been found on the island of Flores - all from the west. The precise time when Columbus first conceived the design of seeking a western route to India cannot be determined; but in the summer of 1474 he opened a correspondence upon this subject with Paulo Toscanelli, a learned cosmographer of Florence, who had already, in a letter to Alfonso V. of Portugal, expressed his views on a western passage to India. In reply to Columbus he said: "I praise your desire to navigate toward the west; the expedition you wish to undertake is not easy, but the route from the west coasts of Europe to the spice Indies is certain, if the tracks I have marked be followed.'1 He also sent him a map projected partly according to Ptolemy and partly according to the descriptions of Marco Polo. On this map Asia was laid down in front of the western coasts of Africa and Europe, with a moderate space of ocean between them, in which were placed Cipango (supposed to be Japan), Antilla, and other islands.

This map, by which Columbus sailed upon his first voyage of discovery, has been lost. In 1477 he made a voyage, apparently of exploration, to the northwest, 100 leagues beyond "the island of Thule," supposed to have been Iceland, into lat. 73°, where he was astonished to find the sea not frozen. Next he is reported to have visited the Portuguese settlement of San Jorge da Mina, on the coast of Guinea. It is asserted that Columbus first applied for aid in his undertaking to his native country, Genoa, but without success; and he is supposed to have vainly solicited the patronage of Portugal before the death of Alfonso. But the first application for royal patronage of which there is any clear and indisputable record was made to John II., who ascended the throne of Portugal in 1481. This monarch had imbibed the passion for discovery from his grand-uncle Prince Henry, and with his reign all its activity revived. King John seems to have received the proposition with favor, and referred it to a learned body charged with all matters relating to maritime discovery, and subsequently to a council composed of prelates and persons of the greatest learning in the kingdom, both of which treated the project as extravagant and visionary.

Meantime he sent a caravel with the ostensible design of carrying provisions to the Cape Verd islands, but with secret instructions to pursue the route indicated by Columbus. After cruising for several days the caravel returned with the report that no indications of land had been seen. The king was not yet inclined to abandon the project, but Columbus, who had lost his wife and was now reduced to poverty, determined to abandon Portugal and seek elsewhere for patronage. Accordingly, with his son Diego, he left Lisbon for Spain toward the end of 1484, secretly, lest his departure should be prevented by King John, or, as some have asserted, by his creditors. He had already engaged his brother Bartolommeo to apply for aid to the king of England, though he does not appear to have entertained great hope from that quarter. It is said that Columbus after leaving Portugal made proposals to the government of Genoa for the second time, and also to Venice, which were declined. In 1485 he was in the south of Spain, where he endeavored to interest the dukes of Medina Sidonia and Medina Celi. The latter recommended the project to Queen Isabella, who requested that Columbus might be sent to her.

Having arrived at Cordova, and while waiting for an opportunity to appear at court, Columbus became attached to Dofia Beatriz Enriquez, by whom he had a son, Fernando, born in 1487, who became the historian of his father. Columbus followed the court to Salamanca, where he was introduced to the king by Pedro Gonzalez de Mendoza, grand cardinal of Spain, the most important personage about the court. Ferdinand heard him without disfavor, and referred the matter to a council of learned men, mostly ecclesiastics, under the presidency of the confessor of the queen. The conference assembled in the Dominican convent of San Estevan at Salamanca, but, instead of investigating the project on scientific grounds, controverted it by Scriptural texts; and it was not till 1491, after many renewed applications, that the commission reported "the project in question vain and impossible, and not becoming great princes to engage in on such slender grounds as had been adduced." Columbus, however, appears, during the seven years he attended the court, to have experienced personally the favor of the king and queen, and to have had frequent communication with them, although the king at least could not be brought to believe in his wonderful projects.

The Spanish sovereigns were during this period engaged in the war against the Moors of Granada, and Columbus seems to have borne arms as a volunteer. A passage in Diego Ortiz's "Annals of Seville " incidentally mentions his bravery. Records are also extant of his having been provided with free quarters at the king's charge, with pay equal to his personal expenses. During this period of hope deferred, Columbus sustained himself with undiminished confidence. Endued with a poetic temperament, the auguries he sought for in the mystic language of the Scriptures gave a bias to his mind, which in his later years amounted almost to delusion. He sought in prophecy for assurance that the time had come when Christianity should be extended to the ends of the earth, and came to regard himself as the destined instrument of Heaven for that end. While in this frame, and assisting at the siege of Baza, in December, 1489, two pilgrims having brought to the camp the threat of the sultan of Egypt to raze the tomb of Christ, Columbus registered a vow to devote the proceeds of his discoveries to rescue the holy sepulchre. In 1488 he received a letter from John II. of Portugal, inviting him to return. Henry VII. of England also invited him by letter to that country, and held out promises of encouragement.

In 1491 he set out to lay his project before Charles VIII. of France, who had also written to him. On his way he stopped at the gate of the Franciscan monastery of La Rabida, near the seaport of Palos de Moguer in Andalusia, and asked for some bread and water for his boy. The prior of the convent, Juan Perez de Mar-chena, became greatly interested by the conversation of Columbus, and detained him as his guest. The mariners of Palos were then the most enterprising of Spain, and Juan Perez, himself a learned man, took much interest in their adventures. Dazzled by the stupendous projects described to him, but distrusting his own judgment, the worthy prior consulted with his friend Garcia Fernandez, physician of the village, and also with Alonso Pinzon, an experienced navigator of Palos. Pinzon was enthusiastic, and offered not only to advance money, but to command a ship. Perez had been the queen's confessor, and presuming on this sacred relation, he wrote a letter to Isabella, which he sent by the hands of Sebastian Rodriguez, an influential navigator of Palos, beseeching her to grant him an interview.

Receiving a favorable reply, the prior mounted his mule at midnight, and rode to the camp at Santa Fe, where the king and queen were, and procured for Columbus an opportunity to explain his views personally. Isabella, on appointing an interview, considerately sent Columbus 20,000 maravedis (about $216), to put himself in condition to appear at court. Columbus related his story before the king and queen; but the terms upon which he insisted were characterized as exorbitant and ridiculous by the queen's confessor, Fernando de Talavera, archbishop of Granada, who had been appointed one of the negotiators; they were accordingly rejected. Columbus had left the royal presence, and was already two leagues from Granada on his way to Cordova, whence he intended to depart for France, when a messenger from the queen summoned him to return to Santa Fe. The brief space of time that had intervened gave to Spain the empire of the new world. When Columbus left the queen's presence, Juan Perez, Alonso de Quintanilla, Luis de San Angel, receiver of ecclesiastical revenues of Aragon, and the lady Beatriz, marchioness of Moya, remonstrated. Ferdinand coldly signified that the exchequer was empty.

Isabella exclaimed, "I undertake the enterprise for my own crown of Castile, and will pledge my jewels to raise the necessary funds." The necessity of raising money by this means was obviated by San Angel offering to advance the funds on behalf of the crown of Castile, and 17,000 florins were advanced out of the treasury of Ferdinand. Accordingly, Columbus on his return had but to join their majesties in signing the agreement, on his own terms, as drawn up by Juan de Colonna, the royal secretary. This document, signed at Santa Fe, April 17, 1492, contained five articles: 1, that Columbus and his heirs male for ever should have the office of admiral over all lands he might discover, with honors equal to those of the grand admiral of Castile in his jurisdiction; 2, that he should be viceroy and governor general, with right to name governors for the sovereigns' approval; 3, that he should receive one tenth of the net value of all pearls, precious stones, gold, silver, spices, and merchandise obtained within his jurisdiction; 4, that he and his lieutenants should be the sole judges in all disputes that might arise between his jurisdiction and Spain; and 5, that he might at any time advance one eighth in any venture, and receive a corresponding share of the profits.

A letter of privilege also permitted Columbus to take the title of don. The royal documents were signed both by Ferdinand and Isabella, but her separate crown of Castile defrayed all the expense; and during her life few persons except Castilians were permitted to establish themselves in the new territories. On May 8 young Diego was appointed page to Prince John, the heir apparent, "and on May 12 Columbus took leave of the king and queen to superintend the fitting out of the expedition at Palos. He, with the aid of Perez and the brothers Pinzon, contributed an eighth of the expense. Trouble was found in procuring crews. Some were induced to join by four months' pay in advance, and by a decree that volunteers should be free from arrest for two months after their return. The complement was made up by impressment. Three ships, the Santa Maria, a decked vessel, and two caravels, or undecked boats, the Pinta and Nina, were fitted out. The Santa Maria was of 90 ft. keel and had four masts, of which two were square-rigged, and two fitted with lateen sails. It was decked from stem to stern, having besides a poop 26 ft. in length, beneath which was the armament of heavy guns, with small pieces forward, for throwing stones and grape. It was provided with eight anchors and carried 66 seamen.

The other two vessels were of small size, which was considered an advantage for exploring rivers and coasts. Columbus commanded the Santa Maria; Martin Alonso Pinzon, having his second brother, Francisco Martin, for pilot, the Pinta; and the third brother, Vicente Yafiez Pinzon, the Nina. Three other pilots were attached to the expedition, namely: Sancho Ruiz, Pedro Alonso Nino, and Bartolome Roldan. Rodriguez Sanchez was inspector general of the fleet; Diego de Arana, principal alguazil; Rodrigo de Escobar, royal notary. There were also a surgeon, a physician, some few adventurers, and 90 seamen; in all, 120 souls. There were provisions for one year. Before leaving, Columbus, with most of his officers and crew, confessed to Juan Perez, and received the sacrament; and from the roads of Saltez, near Palos, on Friday morning, Aug. 3, 1492, they set sail on their expedition. They reached the Canaries without incident, except an accident to the Pinta's rudder, but hastened their departure from those islands, Sept. 6, on learning that a Portuguese fleet of three frigates was near, which the admiral was apprehensive might have been sent to intercept him.

When night fell, and they lost sight of the last land on the margin of the sea of darkness, the full measure of their hardihood burst on the adventurers. Many wept, and declared they should never return. Columbus calmed their fears, and excited their cupidity by picturing the gorgeous regions of the east, drawing for descriptions on his imagination of Cathay. After leaving the Canaries the winds were light and baffling, but always from the east. On Sept. 11 they saw floating a tree, or mast, as of a vessel of 120 tons. On the afternoon of the 13th Columbus was startled to find a variance of the needle, which no longer pointed to the pole. The crew becoming alarmed, he invented a plausible theory about the attraction of the polar star, which quieted the pilots' fears. He also took observations of the sun every day with an astrolabe, and kept two logs, one correct for himself, and the other, showing a smaller progress, for his crew, thus keeping them in ignorance of the great distance they were from Spain. As they advanced, the oldest sailors were deceived by frequent indications of land. On the night of the 15th a meteor fell within five lengths of the admiral's ship.

On the 16th the ships entered into the region of the trade winds. "This day, and all the following," says Columbus, "the air was so mild that it wanted but the song of nightingales to make it like the month of April in Andalusia." The same day they came into the sea of seaweed, yet known as the Sargasso sea; and on the 18th Martin Alonso, who had been ahead in the Pinta, assured Columbus that, from indications, they would see the land next day. The 19th was calm; they sounded, and found no bottom at 200 fathoms. On the 20th a change of wind to the S. W. cheered the crews with the belief that they were not urged forward by an ever-blowing east wind, against which it would be impossible to return. On the 23d was a storm, during which the crews insisted that the admiral should tempt Providence no further. On the 25th the wind became favorable. Columbus was studying a chart in his cabin, when Martin Pinzon cried "Land!" pointing to the S. W., where a dark mass was visible at the apparent distance of 25 leagues. The Gloria in excelsis was sung in all the ships, and the course was altered, only to find on the morrow that they had mistaken a cloud for the shore. For several days they sailed due west with a favoring breeze.

On Oct. 1 Columbus estimated that he was 707 leagues from the Azores, and that in 40 more he would make some part of Asia. On the 7th the Nina gave the signal for land; but this was again an illusion. The crews had long been in a state of mutiny, often despairing, at other times turbulent, and even plotting to throw the admiral overboard. Columbus never swerved. Impressed by the one great idea of Asia to the westward, he refused to turn from the course, not even in search of islands which the pilots imagined to be near. During the 8th, 9th, and 10th they sailed W. S. W., following the flight of birds. On the 11th the Pinta picked up a piece of wood rudely carved, and the Nina a branch of thorn, with red berries. As night set in, the course was again changed due west. After evening prayer the admiral ordered a double watch to be set, and promised a silken doublet, in addition to the 10,000 maravedis guaranteed by the crown, to him who should first see the land. At 10 o'clock P. M. Columbus was seated on his deck, gazing wistfully seaward, when he saw a light. He called to Pedro Gutierrez, who also saw it, but Rodriguez Sanchez did not. No one slept that night. At 2 o'clock A. M. of Friday, Oct. 12, 1492, after having been 71 days at sea, the Pinta fired a gun, the signal for land.

Rodrigo Triana, a sailor of the Pinta, was the first who saw the new world; but the reward was afterward adjudged to Columbus, for having previously perceived the light. When morning dawned a wooded island was seen about two leagues distant, with crowds of natives running along the beach. At sunrise, the boats being lowered, Columbus with the royal standard of Castile, and the brothers Pinzon bearing each a flag with a green cross, were rowed to the shore. Columbus first stepped on the beach. All knelt down, kissing the ground with tears and thanks to God. Then rising and drawing his sword, Columbus, as grand admiral and viceroy, unfurled the royal banner, took possession in the name of the crown of Castile, and named the island (one of the Bahama group) San Salvador. The astonished natives gazed in silence at their visitors, whom they imagined to be gods come down from heaven. Presents were exchanged of toys and trinkets for cotton yarn and cassava bread. Some of the natives, who wore ornaments of gold, on being interrogated whence the metal came, indicated by gestures a country in the south, whereon Columbus carried off seven of them and set out in search of this auriferous region, which he supposed to be Cipango. In the search, which proved fruitless as far as gold was concerned, he discovered the islands of Conception, Exuma, Isla Larga, and Cuba. The last he at first thought was the Cipango he sought, but afterward concluded it was the mainland of India. He also discovered Hayti, which he thought was the Ophir of Solomon, but which he called Hispaniola, or Little Spain. On the bay, since called bay of Caracola, of this island, he built a fort with the timbers of the Santa Maria, and leaving in it 39 men, sailed on Jan 4, 1493, for Spain, taking with him several natives in the Nina, Martin Pinzon having already gone in search of gold on his own account in the Pinta. During the voyage a storm threatened the Nina with destruction.

Columbus, fearful lest the knowledge of his discovery should perish, prepared a written statement of it, and heading it up in a cask committed it to the deep. On March 15, 1493, the ship reached the port of Palos, having a few days before been driven by storm into the Tagus, where he was favorably entertained by King John. The Spanish sovereigns, then at Barcelona, received him with great relaxation of court etiquette, ordered him to relate his adventures seated in their presence, confirmed all the dignities previously bestowed, and placed him in command of a fleet of 17 ships and 1,500 men, to prosecute the discovery. "With this fleet he sailed from Cadiz, Sept. 25, 1493. From this day his good fortune forsook him. Many of those who sailed with him were adventurers in search of gold. Mutinies and quarrels broke out, and many of those who expected to find fortunes, but met nothing but disappointment, threw the blame on the admiral. Having discovered the Windward islands, Jamaica, and Porto Rico, and founded a colony in Hispaniola, of which he left his brother Bartolommeo adelantado, or lieutenant governor, he returned home against the trade winds, and reached Cadiz June 11, 1496. He was successful in clearing himself of the clamor against him.

On some courtiers depreciating the value of his discovery, he invited them to make an egg stand on end. When they had exhausted their efforts to accomplish the feat, Columbus struck the egg on the table, breaking the shell, and thus left it upright. "Any one can do that!" cried the courtiers. "When I have shown you the way," replied Columbus, leaving them to make the application. Columbus sailed on his third voyage to the new world, May 30, 1498, from San Lucar de Bar-rameda, with six ships. On this occasion he kept further to the south, discovering the mouth of the Orinoco, which he imagined was the great river Gihon, having its rise in the garden of Eden; also the coast of Para, and the islands of Trinidad, Margarita, and Cubaqua; then he bore away to Hispaniola, there to recruit his enfeebled health. He found the colony disorganized, and in his efforts to restore it became again the victim of malice and misrepresentation. A commissioner, Francisco de Bobadilla, was sent from Spain ostensibly to inquire into the difficulties.

His first act was to put Columbus and his brother in chains, and send them to Spain. The account given of this indignity is touching. "Are you taking me to death, Vallejo?" inquired Columbus sadly, when that officer came to lead him from his cell. "Your excellency is to be conducted to Spain," replied the officer, whereupon the admiral relapsed into silence. The officers of the ship offering to liberate him from his fetters, he replied proudly that the chains had been put upon him by authority of their majesties, and he added, "I will wear them until they shall order them to be taken off, and I will preserve them afterward as relics and memorials of the reward of my services." The indignation expressed throughout Spain at this outrage caused the king to disclaim having authorized it; but it is evident that the nobles were jealous of the superior rank of the admiral, and the king dissatisfied with the unproductiveness of the new countries. After nine months1 polite evasion of his entreaties for redress, Ferdinand appointed Nicolas Ovando governor of Hispaniola in his stead. Bobadilla had meantime been recalled, and was drowned on the way.

The only subsequent employment of Columbus, now old, was the command of four caravels with 150 men, to search for a passage through the sea now known as the gulf of Mexico to the East Indies. He sailed from Cadiz, May 9, 1502; was refused permission to refit at his own colony, Hispaniola; coasted the south side of the gulf of Mexico; and after much suffering from famine and hardship returned home, reaching San Lucar Nov. 7, 1504. He lay sick some months at Seville, and recovered only to have his claims for redress finally rejected by the king, Queen Isabella being now dead. An old man, broken in body, although in full possession of his mental faculties, having, in his own words, "no place to repair to except an inn, and often with nothing to pay for his sustenance," the discoverer of the new world died, in the act of repeating the words, in Latin: "Lord, into thy hands I commit my spirit." Seven years afterward a marble tomb was placed over his remains, with an inscription ordered by the king:

A Castillo, y a Leon Nuevo mundo dio Colon.

("To Castile and Leon a new world gave Colon.") Death did not end his voyages. His remains, first deposited in the convent of St. Francis, were transferred in 1513 to the Carthusian monastery of Las Cuevas; were taken in 1536 to Santo Domingo, and deposited in the cathedral of that city; thence were conveyed with great pomp in 1796 to the cathedral of Havana, where they now repose. - The character of Columbus is impressed on his life: lofty, daring, and ambitious in design, indomitable in conduct, moderate in success, undepressed in adversity, and in all imbued with a spirit of devotion. In person he was above the middle height, his countenance oval, with aquiline nose, bluish gray eyes, and fresh complexion. His hair had been auburn in youth, but whitened early. The nobleness of his bearing commanded respect. He spoke fluently, and his conversation was vivacious, although at a later period, when he had been tried by misfortune, he says his "speech was abrupt and little amiable." In personal habits he was temperate, and toward his family entertained the warmest affection. His sons were more fortunate than himself.

Diego sued the king in the high council of the Indies, and, recovering the viceroyalty of Hispaniola, married Maria de Toledo, niece of the duke of Alva. Their eldest son, Luis, exchanged the hereditary dignity of admiral for a pension and the title of duke of Veragua, marquis of Jamaica. Luis's eldest daughter married her cousin Diego, and died without issue, the male line thus becoming extinct. Finally the property and titles became in 1608 merged by marriage through the female line in a branch of the house of Braganca. - See Fernando Colon, Jlis-toria del Almirante Cristoforo Colombo, suo padre (Italian translation from the Spanish MS., Venice, 1571); Navigatio Christophori Columbi (Vicenza, 1507); Codice diplomatico Colombo-Americano (Genoa, 1523); Oviedo, Historia general de las Indias (1535-'7); Her-rera, Indias Occidentales (1601); Robertson's "History of America" (1777); - Bossi, Vita di Colombo (Milan, 1818); Navarrete, Relation de los quatro viajes de Cristobal Colon (1825); Washington Irving, "Life and Voyages of Columbus" (New York, 1828); Pres-cott, "Ferdinand and Isabella" (Boston, 1838); Schneidawind, Christoph Columbus, Americas Entdeclcer (1843); A. Sanguinetti, Vita di C. Colombo (1846); Roselly de Lorgues, Chris-tophe Colombe, sa vie etses voyages (Paris, 1856); Patria e biografia di Cristoforo Colombo (Genoa, 1858); Peschel, Ueber das Geburtsjahr des EntdecTcers von Amerika (in Das Ausland, 1866); D'Avezac, Annee veritable de la nais-sance de Christophe Colombe (in the Bulletin de lasociete de geographic, July, 1872). The complete works (Raccolta completa) of Columbus were published by Torre in 1864 (Lyons). II. Bartolommco, elder brother of the preceding, born in Genoa about 1432, died in 1514. The events of his early years are not on record.

In 1470 he was established at Lisbon as a mariner and constructor of maps, where were many adventurous navigators whom the patronage of the Portuguese princes had drawn to their capital. He is believed to have visited the Cape of Good Hope with Bartholomew Diaz. It is not known how long he was absent when his brother sent him to England to seek the aid of Henry VII., but it appears certain that Christopher was ignorant of his fate, further than that he was captured by pirates. He did, however, attain the ear of the English monarch, and presented him with a map of the world, but it does not appear that he succeeded in procuring English aid. On his return through France he learned that his brother had already discovered the new world, and had sailed on a second voyage. Hastening to the Spanish court, he was received as became the brother of the admiral. Queen Isabella sent him in command of three store ships to the new colony of Hispaniola, where Christopher received him with joy, and appointed him adelantado or lieutenant governor of the Indies. In this position Bartolommeo showed great bravery and decision.

He shared his brother's imprisonment, and with him was liberated on reaching Spain, where the Spanish monarchs confirmed his title, and gave him the lordship of the small island of Mona near Santo Domingo, with 200 Indians as his personal body guard. The fierce energy of his character, however, made them jealous of giving him too much latitude in affairs. He died childless.