Didrik Pining

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Didrik Pining also Dietrich or Diderik (born ca. 1428 in Hildesheim, Germany – 1491 Vardø) is claimed to have discovered America in 1473, twenty years before Columbus. He was the captain of a German-led, Danish-sponsored, and Portuguese-financed expedition seeking a northwestern route to Asia. Pining is said to have landed with three ships in 1473 on Newfoundland and Labrador together with Hans Pothorst also from Hildesheim and João Vaz Corte-Real from Portugal. The steersman was Johannes Scolvus aka John of Kolno.

Didrik Pining was a nobleman who began his career as a pirate hunting down English raiders and merchant ships in the North Atlantic. Later he was the governor of Iceland.

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