Excerpt from The Illustrated American Biography, Vol. 1 of 6: Containing Correct Portraits and Brief Notices of the Principal Actors in American History; Embracing Distinguished Women, Naval and Military Heroes, Statesmen, Civilians, Jurists, Divines, Authors and Artists, Together With Celebrated Indian Chiefs For many years after this, the traces of his career are faint, although it is evident that his life passed in a succession of naval or other maritime pursuits. His sagacious mind led him to believe that other lands lay far off towards the setting sun, and he resolved to convince the world that his views were correct. Poor and friendless as he was, he conceived the bold idea which led to the discovery of the Western Conti nent. Full of this purpose, he sought the aid of powerful courts, first applying to the throne of Portugal, and then to that of Spain. But here he was destined to encounter the fiercest opposition, and it was not until after many years of struggle and disap pointment that he succeeded in securing the patronage of Ferdinand and Isabella, who fitted him out with a squadron of three small vessels, carrying in all one hundred and twenty persons, among whom were various private adventurers. With this little fleet, and full of hope and the solemn purpose he had so long and ardently cherished, he set sail from Huelva on the 3d of August, 1492. After a long and perilous voyage, in which the terrors of the Atlantic were among the smallest difficulties he had to encounter, - his officers, crews, and passengers in almost constant fear and mutiny, - his heart was made glad, and the fears of all dissipated, by the joyous cry of Land, ho on the morning of the 12th of October. 1492. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.