Statue of Leif near the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
Leif Erikson memorial statue at Shilshole Bay Marina (Port of Seattle)
Leif Eriksson Discovers America (1893)
US commemorative stamp, issued 9 October 1968 (Leif Erikson Day)
Memorial of Leif Eriksson
Leif's year of birth is most often given as c. 971 or c. 980. Leif Ericson was born in Iceland, the son of Eric the Red and Thjodhild. He moved with his parents to Greenland in 986. Leif had two brothers, whose names were Thorsteinn and Thorvaldr, and a sister, Freydís.
Leif, 15 at the time, listened carefully to tales of Bjarni Herjolfson's adventures and on reaching his majority, and chafing under the patriarchal rule of his father, he determined to visit Bjarni's southernmost land. He undoubtedly was motivated by Bjarni's account of large timber stands sighted along the coast, for timber was scarce in Greenland. Bjarni not only furnished the idea for the voyage but also supplied Leif with the very ship that he had used on his own inadvertent exploration.
Leif's voyage was planned in details. His discovery, then, was not an accident, as those who give too little credence to Viking navigational skills intimate. He set sail probably in 995, passed Markland (Labrador), and reached Newfoundland, where his thirsty crewmen drank dew from the grass. Here, in what probably was Leif's Vinland, the men decided to winter, noticing that the days were more equitable in length than at home. In addition to building lodgings, the men cut timber and hunted. Their tasks were eased by the fact that there were no natives in the vicinity. On one hunting and exploratory expedition, one Tyrker, who had lived in warmer climates, returned with grapes. Consequently the men began to cut vines and harvest grapes in addition to gathering timber. Because of the new find, Leif named the area Vinland, which subsequently became known as Vinland the Good.
Where in Newfoundland Leif wintered is still a matter of controversy, but most leading scholars are firmly convinced that it was on that island. Grapes grew wild in quantity in Newfoundland until as late as the middle of the 17th century, because the climate then was much more benign than it is today.
On the trip home with timber and other goods of value, Leif rescued a ship of Thorer and from it obtained assorted Norwegian trade goods. Because of this highly prosperous voyage, Leif received the name "Lucky."
Blocked from further ambitions by a father who did not intend to lose political influence to his son, Leif in 997 sailed for Norway, hoping to curry favor with the king, Olaf Tryggvason. En route he visited the Hebrides. When the aged chieftain decided to make a trip to Newfoundland, Leif refused him the use of his ship. At this point in the sages Leif gives place to other members of his family.
Nothing is mentioned about his death in the sagas - he probably died in Greenland. Nothing further is known about his family beyond the succession of Thorkell as chieftain.
Leif Ericson was the first Norseman to seek out the coast of North America, his successful expedition in Newfoundland encouraged other Norsemen to also make the journey. Thus, he established the first Norse settlement at Vinland in modern-day Canada. He introduced Christianity into Greenland.
The first statue of Leif was erected in Boston in 1887. His statue was also erected in Chicago in 1901.
To increase his power and prestige in Norway, he became a Christian. The next year Leif returned home bringing priests and the new faith with him.
Leif was described as a wise, considerate, and strong man of striking appearance. He was a forceful, brave, shrewd leader who was careful in all things.
During his stay in the Hebrides, he fell in love with a noblewoman, Thorgunna, who gave birth to their son Thorgils. Thorgils was later sent to Leif in Greenland, but he did not become popular. He had another son, Thorstein.
