Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was a Genoese navigator and explorer who, amongst other things, discovered America in 1492.
While renowned for his discoveries, he was also a cruel man, who used American natives as slaves and, as a colonial governor, committed many atrocities. (AUDIO: Trouble in Paradise [+]Loading...["Trouble in Paradise (audio story)"])
Biography[[edit] | [edit source]]
The Time Lord known as the Colonel and his history-buff companion Lisa Drake once ran into Columbus during a visit to 1490 Spain. Not realising the exact date placed this Columbus before his famous voyage, Lisa rushed to meet him and tried to ask him about his "discovery of the New World", one of many such potentially-paradox-inducing slips for which the Colonel reprimanded her. However, no actual damage to history occurred as a result of Lisa's "gaffe". (GAME: The Legions of Death [+]Loading...["The Legions of Death (game)"])
According to one account, the First Doctor met Columbus and found him promising, but left before he made known his theory that the Earth was round. He later compared Ian Chesterton's scepticism to the treatment Columbus must have received. (PROSE: Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks [+]Loading...["Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks (novelisation)"])
The Fourth Doctor later mentioned that, at some point in the past, he had travelled with Columbus on the Santa Maria, and suggested that Columbus plot his course with an orange and a biro, but Columbus didn't listen. (PROSE: Eye of Heaven [+]Loading...["Eye of Heaven (novel)"])
The Sixth Doctor read his name in a collection of business cards of geniuses to consult for a problem of time slip. He commented that Columbus "ad a lot to answer for". (TV: The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"])
The Sixth Doctor and Peri Brown later met Columbus aboard the Santa Maria on 12 October 1492 when they were summoned to his ship by the Doctor's eleventh incarnation. (AUDIO: Trouble in Paradise [+]Loading...["Trouble in Paradise (audio story)"])
Legacy[[edit] | [edit source]]
A city on the human colony planet Galspar was named Christopher Columbus. (AUDIO: I Scream [+]Loading...["I Scream (audio story)"])
Other references[[edit] | [edit source]]
Ian Chesterton referred to Vicki Pallister as "Christopher Columbus" when she ran off on her own to explore the Sagarro Desert on the planet Aridius. (TV: The Chase [+]Loading...["The Chase (TV story)"])
While talking to the Brigadier, Jo Grant compared Clifford Jones to "impossible dreamer[s]" like "Jesus of Nazareth, Christopher Columbus, and Marconi." (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Green Death [+]Loading...["Doctor Who and the Green Death (novelisation)"])
When discussing how certain the Fourth Doctor was about Zeos being hidden, he asked, "How could Columbus be so sure?" Romana I replied, "Who?" (TV: The Armageddon Factor [+]Loading...["The Armageddon Factor (TV story)"])
Ace unfavourably compared Raphael to Christopher Columbus when he failed to realise her intention to explore Kirith's Harbours. (PROSE: Timewyrm: Apocalypse [+]Loading...["Timewyrm: Apocalypse (novel)"])