Erik the Red was a Norse explorer known for founding the first Norse settlement in Greenland. Born around 950 AD in Norway, he was the son of Icelandic parents and later moved to Iceland. After being exiled for manslaughter, he sailed to Greenland and spent three years exploring the area before returning to Iceland to promote its settlement.
In 985 AD, Erik led a group of settlers to Greenland, where he established a colony. His efforts contributed to the Norse exploration of North America, as his son, Leif Erikson, later became one of the first Europeans to reach North America.