John Lloyd Stephens

About

North American explorer who rediscovered the Mayan civilization.

Before Fame

A child prodigy, he enrolled at Columbia at age 13 and graduated four years later.

Trivia

He came upon the first Mayan ruins quite by accident, and then from there continued to find related sites.

Family Life

He was born into a prosperous merchant family.

Associated With

Martin Van Buren appointed him as the the Special Ambassador to Central America, where he witnessed its federation of states break apart.