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Pedro Alonso Nino

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Explorer

The Resume

    (1468-1505)
    Born in Palos de Moguer, Spain
    Spanish navigator and explorer
    Also known as Peralonso Niño
    Brother to fellow navigators Francisco Nino and Juan de Moguer Nino
    Known as the Santa Maria ship's pilot on Christopher Columbus' 1492 expedition
    Accompanied Columbus during his third voyage, discovering Trinidad and the mouths of the Orinoco River
    Also independently explored the African coast, Margarita, Coche, Cubaga, and Punta Araya

Why he might be annoying:

    He was described as impatient.
    He promised 20% of the profits from his independent expeditions to the Spanish Crown, but was accused of cheating the King out of his share on his return.
    People tend to falsely assume that he was Columbus' slave, although there is no record of him ever having been one.
    He obtained a license to travel with Columbus allegedly on the condition that he not come within fifty leagues of what Columbus would discover.
    He may be confused with fellow textbook token, York, who actually was a slave to explorers Lewis and Clark over a century later.
    Washington Irving claimed that he royally pissed off King Ferdinand, on the third voyage, by writing to him that he had 'a great amount of gold on his ship' which the King misinterpreted to mean actual money ('the gold' turned out to be Indian slaves).
    He was crudely referenced in a Good Times episode when James Evans learns about him and exclaims 'a spook sailed with Columbus?!'
    Arguments surfaced in the 1930s claiming that he was not actually a black man at all, and that mistranslation of original texts mentioning him were referring to someone else entirely.

Why he might not be annoying:

    His nickname was 'El Negro' ('The Black').
    He was described as 'more practical' than Admiral Columbus.
    Although little is known about his early life, it is generally believed he and his brothers grew up poor.
    His 14-year old son, Francisco, traveled with him as a cabin boy on Columbus' second voyage to the East Indies.
    He had the grievous misfortune to be one of the teachers for Ferdinand and Isabella's bratty only child, Prince John, whom he tried to teach the art of mapmaking.
    He was named by the Catholic Monarchy chief pilot of the Ocean Sea (the Atlantic) as recompense for his services to the crown.
    Ferdinand and Isabella had him arrested, locked up, and his property confiscated after accusing him of 'cheating them.' He died shortly before he was to stand trial (some things never change...)
    Attempts were made to block a petition from African Americans for there to be a monument in his honor, in Washington, D.C. (1932).
    One historical account claims that he and his men were attacked by cannibals on a voyage in 1500. He allegedly fended them off by freeing their prisoners and allowing them to take their revenge on their captors.

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying