Leif Erikson

Leifr Eiríksson, known as 'Leif the Lucky' (Leifr hinn heppni), was born around 970 in Iceland, the son of Erik the Red, who founded the Norse colonies in Greenland. Converted to Christianity by King Olaf Tryggvason in Norway, Leif was commissioned to introduce Christianity to Greenland.

Around the year 1000, inspired by reports from mariner Bjarni Herjólfsson, Leif sailed west with thirty-five men. He discovered and named Helluland (Baffin Island), Markland (Labrador), and Vínland (likely Newfoundland, where archaeological remains were excavated at L'Anse aux Meadows in 1960), building settlements where wild grapes and salmon abounded. He returned to Greenland to assume leadership of the colony after his father's death.