What Happened in December 1492

Historical Events

Historic Discovery

Dec 5 Christopher Columbus discovers Hispaniola (El Espanola/Haiti)

Explorer of the New World Christopher Columbus — Explorer of the New World
Christopher Columbus

Santa María

Dec 25 Christopher Columbus' flagship the Santa María runs aground and sinks on the north coast of Hispaniola. The crew are left to found a colony as Columbus returns to Spain
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Dec 26 1st Spanish settlement La Navidad in the New World is founded by Christopher Columbus (modern Môle-Saint-Nicolas in Haiti)
Dec 31 100,000 Jews expelled from Sicily