Eric the Red was a Norse explorer born around 950 AD in Norway. He is best known for founding the first Norse settlement in Greenland after being exiled from Iceland for three years due to a series of violent incidents. His settlement in Greenland marked a significant expansion of Norse exploration. Eric's son, Leif Erikson, later followed in his father's footsteps and is credited with reaching North America, specifically an area he called Vinland. Eric's voyages contributed to the Norse understanding of the North Atlantic and the establishment of settlements beyond their traditional territories.