Gavin Menzies (1937-2020) was the bestselling author of 1421: The Year China Found America, 1434: The Year a Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed to Italy and Ignited the Renaissance, and The Lost Kingdom of Atlantis: History's Biggest Mystery Solved, among other books. Between 1953 until 1970, he served in the Royal Navy. His understanding of seafaring and navigation piqued his curiosity in Chinese admiral Zheng He's epic adventures.