Diego Álvarez Chanca (c. 1463 – c. 1515) was a Spanish physician who accompanied

Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus (; between 25 August and 31 October 1451 – 20 May 1506) was an Italians, Italian explorer and navigator from the Republic of Genoa who completed Voyages of Christopher Columbus, four Spanish-based voyages across the At ...

on his second voyage. Chanca was a physician-in-ordinary to

Ferdinand and Isabella The Catholic Monarchs were Queen Isabella I of Castile () and King Ferdinand II of Aragon (), whose marriage and joint rule marked the '' de facto'' unification of Spain. They were both from the House of Trastámara and were second cousins, ...

, which is how he was introduced to Columbus. He was appointed by the

Crown of Spain The monarchy of Spain or Spanish monarchy () is the constitutional form of government of Spain. It consists of a hereditary monarch who reigns as the head of state, being the highest office of the country. The Spanish monarchy is constitu ...

to accompany Columbus' second expedition to America in 1493. Shortly after landing on

Hispaniola Hispaniola (, also ) is an island between Geography of Cuba, Cuba and Geography of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico in the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean. Hispaniola is the most populous island in the West Indies, and the second-largest by List of C ...

, Columbus suffered from an attack of malarial fever, which Chanca successfully treated. Several other members of the crew were also treated for malaria during this period. Chanca's opinion was also sought when Columbus was selecting a site for his first settlement, Isabella. While there, Chanca wrote a letter to the municipal council of his native city of

Seville Seville ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Spain, Spanish autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the Guadalquivir, River Guadalquivir, ...

, which was the first document describing the flora, the fauna, the ethnology, and the ethnography of America. After his return to Spain in February 1494, he published in 1506 a medical treatise entitled ''Para curar el mal de Costado'' (The Treatment of

Pleurisy Pleurisy, also known as pleuritis, is inflammation of the membranes that surround the lungs and line the chest cavity (Pulmonary pleurae, pleurae). This can result in a sharp chest pain while breathing. Occasionally the pain may be a constant d ...

), and in 1514, he published a work in Latin criticizing a book entitled ''De conservanda juventute et retardanda senectute'', the work of Arnaldo de Villanova, a brother-physician. He is also credited with introducing red pepper (capsaicin) and allspice to Spanish cuisine.History of Spices, The McCormick Science Institute
accessed March 28, 2022

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* * * 1460s births 1510s deaths Year of birth uncertain Year of death uncertain 15th-century Spanish explorers 15th-century Spanish physicians 16th-century Spanish physicians Explorers of Central America 16th-century Spanish writers Court physicians Spanish explorers of North America {{Spain-med-bio-stub