Answer: Henry I Sinclair, Earl of Orkney and Sir James Gunn
Explanation;
Henry Sinclair was a Scottish nobleman who according to some stories, was the first European to reach North America doing so in the 1300s which would mean he did so a century before Christopher Columbus.
The main proof of this arises from letters between the Zeno brothers in which it is alleged that after Henry saved them from islanders in Shetland and so they pledged to sail with him.
In one of their voyages they reached Newfoundland in Canada before continuing inwards to reach Massachusetts around where Sir James Gunn who was accompanying him on the trip died. They allegedly commemorated this by drawing an outline of an armoured knight with a shield bearing the crest on the Gunn House on a rock which today is found in Westford, Massachusetts.
It is also alleged that both men were members of the then defunct Knights Templars.
In general, this statement is true, since throughout history many colonies have been used for this purpose, although there are many other reasons colonies are formed, such as to escape religious persecution.
Answer:
Smallpox, between 7,000 and 10,000
Explanation:
Hope this helps;)