Leonardo Da Vinci was born in 1452 in Italy and began his career as an apprentice in a workshop creating paintings. Besides art, Da Vinci studied possible flying machines, weapons, geometry and construction materials. Over a period of 17 years, Da Vinci completed six works of art, including "The Last Supper" and "The Virgin on the Rocks." As his career progressed his work encompassed architecture, mechanics, human anatomy and painting. In 1503, Leonardo Da Vinci started work on the "Mona Lisa." Da Vinci died in 1519 in Cloux, France.
Born in 1564, William Shakespeare was a playwright during the Renaissance period who spent most of his professional career in London. His career started in 1592, and some of his first plays were "Titus Andronicus" and "The Two Gentleman of Verona." In 1599, he helped build the Globe theater in London, which become one of the top theaters in the city. Other famous Shakespeare plays performed at the time include "Hamlet," "Romeo and Juliet," "Othello" and "King Lear." Shakespeare died in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1613.
Sir Isaac Newton was born in 1642 and is considered the founder of modern physical science. After graduating from Cambridge University, Newton entered Trinity College and soon become a professor of mathematics. Newton worked as a mathematician, astronomer and physicist, and is credited with establishing laws of motion, color theory, developing the reflecting telescope, establishing the law of universal gravitation, and writing on the law of cooling and calculus. Newton died in 1727.
Christopher Columbus was born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy, and is credited with discovering America. His original goal was to find a westward route to Asia, but most experts at the time believed it was too far and did not think a ship could carry the necessary fresh water and supplies that distance. In 1492, Columbus made an agreement with the king and queen of Spain to make the voyage. The three ships on the voyage, the Pinta, Santa Maria and Nina, departed on Aug. 3, 1492. In October, he discovered the present day Bahamas and several other islands before returning to Spain. Columbus made three additional trips to America and died in 1506.