Erik Thorvaldsson was born in the Jæren district of Rogaland, Norway around 950 CE. He lived through his exile period beginning in 982 and died during an epidemic that struck many colonists during the winter following his son's departure.
Erik the Red got outlawed from Iceland for three years starting around 982 after killing Eyjolf the Foul and Hrafn the Dueller. The legal dispute escalated further when he slew two sons of Thorgest and several other men over stolen pillars at the Thorsnes Thing assembly.
Erik deliberately named it Greenland because people would be attracted to go there if it had a favorable name. His marketing strategy proved effective when he returned to Greenland in the summer of 985 with colonists ready to build homes.
Erik married Þjódhild Jorundsdottir and they had three sons including Leif Erikson, Thorvald, and Thorstein plus possibly a daughter named Freydís. While his wife embraced Christianity and commissioned Greenland's first church, Erik remained devoted to Norse paganism throughout his life.
Erik later died in an epidemic that struck many colonists during the winter following his son's departure. The timing suggests he passed away around 1003 CE after the expedition had already set sail.