The correct answer is option 2, Columbus. Christopher Columbus is commonly credited with discovering America. In 1492, he set sail on an expedition funded by the Spanish monarchy with the goal of finding a new trade route to Asia. Instead, he reached the Americas, landing on an island in the present-day Bahamas. Columbus`s exploration opened the way for European colonization of the Americas. However, it is important to note that Native Americans had already been living in America for thousands of years before Columbus`s arrival. Therefore, the term "discovery" is often debated and viewed from different perspectives.