Martín Alonso Pinzón

Martín Alonso Pinzón (* 1441 in Palos de la Frontera, † March 31, 1493 ) was a Spanish navigator and participants of the first Columbus trip. He had two brothers, Vicente Yáñez Pinzón and Francisco Martín Pinzón; Vicente commanded on the first trip the caravel Niña, Francisco accompanied him on the Pinta.

Life

Martín Alonso Pinzón was captain of the caravel Pinta, one of the two escort ships of the flagship, the carrack Santa Maria of Christopher Columbus on his first voyage.

On the way Pinzón six weeks of Columbus has been disconnected. The reason is still not known, but Columbus accusing him of treason. As Pinzón was returning to Spain, his ship during a storm was again separated from Columbus, but Columbus and he reached on March 15, 1493 at the same time the port of Palos de la Frontera.

Martín Alonso Pinzón was one of the most important figures on the American journey of discovery of Christopher Columbus. Pinzón was trading Mr. and sailors at the same time and went as one of the staunchest supporter of the Columbus and at the same time as one of his most determined opponent in history. Pinta and Niña were provided by the Pinzóns for this expedition available. This support was also from economic interest.

Pinzón decreed in Palos as head of a wealthy merchant family over great influence because he was a shipowner breadwinner of many local seamen. He was willing to bear the risk of West trip, infected by Columbus' certainty who told eloquently of the riches of India and there so easy to be obtained treasures. As the descendants of Columbus in the pleitos, the judicial processes to its heritage, the " privileges" should be withdrawn, Pinzón was awarded a decisive influence on the discovery of America in retrospect. One went so far as Pinzón as the actual " discoverer of America " highlight. Even though he was so moved over charge at the center, he was with the company but to the important dynamic forces, without which the equipment and manning of the fleet would not be so easily have gone out of hand. The first trip would otherwise might not have been possible. A testimony reported that Martín Alonso had given so much trouble to bring about bring team and to make people courage, as if he would fall prey to everything himself and his children, what they hoped to discover.

Rating

Pinzon wanted to benefit from the discovery of the sea route to India. Perhaps this led to tensions with the Captain-General of the firm Columbus, not least because Columbus was awarded by the Spanish crown the title of Viceroy.