Cristobal Colón was born in Genoa, Italy and was an important marine admiral. He gained fame for discovering America after receiving financing from Catholic King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella for an expedition seeking a new trade route to Asia. On August 3rd, 1492, Colón set sail from Palos, Spain with three ships - the Niña, Pinta, and Santa María - and after a difficult journey with scarce food and sick crew, he made landfall in Guanahaní, which he incorrectly believed to be Asia and called the locals "Indians." Upon his return to Spain on January 15th, 1493, he brought goods and indigenous people to show the Catholic monarchs