When he returned to Greenland, he purchased the boat of Bjarni Herjólfsson and set out to explore the land that Bjarni had sighted, which later became known as North America. He moved the family to Greenland where they started two colonies. Leif Eriksson Leif Eriksson was the explorer of the millennium. As the leader of Viking expeditions, he was the first European to set foot in the New World, 500 years before Christopher Columbus. Leifr hinn heppni, Leif the Lucky), explorer, chieftain (born in the 970s CE in Iceland; died between 1018 and 1025 in Greenland).Leif Eriksson was the first European to explore the east coast of North America, including areas that are now part of Arctic and Atlantic Canada. He took his family and settled in Greenland. Leif Ericson was born in Iceland in about 970 and died around 1020. There was a small village at what is now l'Anse aux Meadows. Just like, Bjarni Herjolfsson who discovered America by accident. Leif erickson day is october 9th. Norse explorer Leif Erikson is reputed to have set foot on North America in the early 11th century, making him amongst the very first Europeans to visit the continent. He also traveled to Norway to serve King Olaf I (Tryggvason). Leif Eriksson was born in Iceland a long time ago. He had two brothers and a sister. 986: Leif's family moves to Greenland Leif's father was an outlaw and an explorer. Leif Eriksson made amazing discoveries and was the first European to reach North America - nearly 500 years before Columbus. According to the Ancient History Encyclopedia, Leif Erikson (also spelled Leif Eriksson, Leif Ericson, or Leifr Eiríksson in Old Norse) was born in Iceland around 970-980 A.D. Leif took the fifteen men on board his ship, and brought the rescued men back to Greenland with him. Leif Eriksson Leif Eriksson was the explorer of the millennium. He explored Greenland in 997 ad, and he discovered America in 1001 ad. Erik Thorvaldsson (c. 950 – c. 1003), known as Erik the Red, was a Norse explorer, described in medieval and Icelandic saga sources as having founded the first settlement in Greenland.He most likely earned the epithet "the Red" due to the color of his hair and beard. 999: Leif's ship is blown off course Leif left Greenland to sail back to Norway for supplies. That is where Leif Eriksson grew up. He took his family and settled in Greenland. But for some unknown reason, the Vikings only made a few voyages to the New World after Leif. Ericson supposedly founded a Viking settlement at Vinland on what is now the Canadian island of Newfoundland. He moved the family to Greenland where they started two colonies. Last Thursday, a new exhibition on Vikings opened at the Canadian Museum of History. He opened a new land rich with resources for the Vikings to explore. Some Vikings also explored because of curiosity. Leif Erikson was the first European to set foot in the New World, opening a new land rich with resources for the Vikings to explore.