THE VAMPIRE CHRONICLES
Elijah was born around 1000 AD, to a Viking family in what would eventually become Norway. He was the second eldest of several siblings: Finn, Niklaus, Kol, and Rebekah. He was turned when he was in his early 30s during or after a battle against an opposing army. He was murdered and turned into a vampire, and then abandoned by his maker.
He awoke some hours later, in transition, under a pile of bodies on the same battle field where he had been slain, and on instinct alone, managed to evade the sun. When the sun went down, he tried to make his way home, starving and confused. The first person he saw was his dear sweet baby sister Rebekah, whose throat he promptly tried to rip out.
After it had been made very clear that whatever he was would prevent him from going home (and it was very clear he was a monster now), he fled. Not much is known about his whereabouts and activities for several years, but he was presumed dead. He learned how to feed but found himself repulsed by his desire to kill, and he made attempts to deny his nature and live off animals.
This did not work. Abstaining from human blood just made him ravenous and so when he snapped, he would leave a trail of bodies. Time passed and Elijah learned the best way to kill, in a way he hoped and believed was more humane, though he still had to feed on living victims. Later on, he realized he could feed but didn't need to kill.
Fast forward to the expansion of Europe's superpowers and the expeditions to the New World (1420) and Elijah, having built a reputation for himself in Europe as noble and honorable man with useful connections, decides to go to America...
Fun facts:
the rest of the Mikaelson siblings, to his knowledge, lived long (and happy?) lives and eventually died, still very human
Elijah has the fire gift
Elijah has a reputation for being a broker of information, someone who does favors for others, and as someone you can count on. He is known for being honorable and noble and for keeping his word.
If you fuck with Elijah, you will pay for it.
When Elijah left for America is flexible so if you think it works better for him to be in Europe to interact with your muse, that is fine!