Marco Polo

Marco Polo (born 1252) was a Venetian trader and explorer who, with his father and uncle, left for Cathay in the year 1271. By his twenty-fifth birthday in 1277, he had come into the service of Kublai Khan. In 1287, Marco, his brother and uncle asked the Khan to be permitted to return home. The Khan refused.

Polo encountered the First Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Susan on the Plain of Pamir in 1289 and promptly seized the TARDIS as a gift for the Khan. He hoped it would be sufficiently impressive to buy his way out of the Khan's service so he could return home. The Doctor and his companions were forced to make a long overland journey with Polo, during which time they got to know him well. (DW: Marco Polo)

Astrolabus claimed he had an appointment in Cathay with Marco Polo. (DWM: Voyager)