Christopher Columbus was born in the port city of Genoa, Italy in 1451. His father was a wool weaver named Domenico Columbo. As a boy, Christopher had no schooling. He and his younger brother Bartholomew helped their father by carding raw wool. Christopher grew up to be a tall, red-haired, quiet and deeply religious man. He worked for his father until he was 22. He went out with the sardine fishing fleets, as other Genoese boys did and he sailed along the coast to Corsica on business for his father. Genoese traders had their own schooners as did Christopher Columbus" father. He made at least one trip to the North African coast. On long trips such as these, Christopher learned the elements of seamanship. In 1476, Columbus sailed as a common seaman aboard a Genoese merchant ship that was headed for Lisbon, England and Flanders. Since the Mediterranean nations were at war at the time, the ship Columbus was on was attacked and went down. Luckily, Columbus was able to swim to shore and make his way to Lisbon where he settled. At this time Portugal was the world's greatest seafaring nation. Many Genoese had become rich and had prospered in Lisbon and Columbus saw his chance to do the same by becoming sea captain under the Portuguese flag. First, however, he had to educate himself. He learned to speak Portuguese and Castilian, which was the official language of Spain at the time. He also mastered Latin so that he may be able to read scholarly books on geography. To earn his living, Columbus became a chart maker. He also made voyages as an agent for a Genoese merchant in Lisbon. In 1479 he married Dona Felipa Perestrello, whose father had been one of Prince Henry's captains. They had one son, Diego. Felipa's high social rank enabled Columbus to meet important officials. She also gave him her father's collection of charts and documents. From these Columbus gained more knowledge of Portuguese discoveries and plans.
