Alot of people say it was Christopher Columbus but the true answer is the Vikings. If you are looking for one specific person the leader of the Vikings was Leif Ericson, son of Eric the Red.
John Cabot was the first European to reach the mainland of what is now the United States.
Many believe that Juan Ponce de León of Spain was the first European to reach the mainland of North America in 1513.
The Vikings
Giovanni Caboto is thought to have been the first European to reach the North American mainland after the Vikings. He is more commonly known as John Cabot.
The Dutch
John Cabot
James Cook was the first European to reach Hawaii(Sandwich Islands)
Rome
Juan Ponce de Leon was the first European explorer to reach Florida.
Magellan led the first European expedition to reach the Pacific Ocean.
Gain a foothold on the European mainland.
briatan