<b>Christopher Columbus</b> (born between 25 August and 31 October 1451, died 20 May 1506) was an Italian explorer and navigator who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean sponsored by the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, opening the way for the widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas. His expeditions were the first known European contact with the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.<br /><br /><b>Edward Everett Hale</b> (April 3, 1822 &ndash; June 10, 1909) was an American author, historian, and Unitarian minister, best known for his writings such as &quot;<b>The Man Without a Country</b>&quot;, published in Atlantic Monthly, in support of the Union during the Civil War. He was the grand-nephew of Nathan Hale, the American spy during the Revolutionary War.