Leif Ericson
Occupation: Explorer
Best known as: first European to discover America
Also known as: Leif Ericsson
Nickname: Leif the Lucky
Nationality: Icelandic
Religion: Polytheist, then converted to Christianity
Born: c. 970
Died: 11th century
Short biography:
Leif was the son of Erik the Red, who colonized Greenland. In 999, Leif traveled to Norway, where he converted to Christianity and met with King Olaf I, who ordered him to spread Christianity to Greenland. According to some sources, Leif's ship was blown far off course when returning to Greenland, while according to other sources, he reached Greenland and then set out to explore western lands. What is certain is that he eventually landed in North America. He named the first island he found Helluland, the next land Markland, and another area Vinland. Helluland might be what we know today as Baffin Island, Markland may be Labrador, and Vinland may be the northern tip of Newfoundland. Leif and his men settled in Vinland, where they stayed for the winter before returning to Greenland with sammples of plants and other specimens. There is no proof that any Vikings settled permanently in North America.
Wife: Thorgunna
Parents: Erik and Red and Thorhild Jorundóttir
Siblings:Freydís Ericsdottir, Thorvald Ericsson, and Thorstein Ericsson
Son: Thorkell Leifsson
