Birth of Christopher Colombus
Birth of Christopher Colombus
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Christopher Colombus Biography and Timeline
Follow Christopher Colombus through 32 dated historical records for Spain.
Christopher Colombus, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
32Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1451–1502Years on this page
1451
1485
Discovery of Trnidad
Lands in Trinidad
1492
Discovery of America
Sails south to the Canary Islands
Discovery of America
Supported by King Ferdinand & Queen Isabella. Sales from Palos with the Nina, Pinta & his flagship the Santa Maria
Santa Maria
Sales from Palos with the Nina, Pinta & his flagship the Santa Maria
Discovery of America
Sets sail from the Canary Islands across the Atlantic after the Pinta is repaired
Discovery of Magnetic Pole
Discovers compasses are inaccurate due to the earths magnetic variation
Discovery of America
Changes the direction of his fleet south west after sighting flight paths of birds
Discovery of San Salvador
Makes a sighting of San Salvador
Discovery of San Salvador
Land is sighted, thought to be Watling Island, now San Salvador Island
Discovery of Watling Island
Land is sighted, thought to be Watling Island, now San Salvador Island
Discovery of Cuba
Sets sail for Cuba from San Salvador
Santa Maria
The Santa Maria runs aground in Haiti
Sinking of Santa Maria - Fort Navidad Salvage
Timbers salvaged from Santa Maria were used to build La Navidad after the flagship grounded off Hispaniola.
Sinking of Santa Maria
The Santa Maria runs aground in Haiti
Discovery of Haiti
Lands on Hati believing this to be Cipango, Asia & would have great quantities of gold
1493
Discovery of America
Colombus sets sail from Haiti & returns to Spain
Arrest of Christopher Colombus
Arrested by the Governor of the Azores, must prove he had been hired by Ferdinand II
Discovery of America
Lands ashore at the Azores on the return to Spain
Discovery of America
Returns to Palos from where he had departed with his fleet before landing in America
Discovery of America
Arrives at the court of Ferdinand & Isabella with news of his voyage to America
Discovery of America
Ferdinand backs a 2nd expedition with 17 ships which departs from Cadiz
1494
Discovery of Jamaica
Discovers Jamaice & names the island Santiago, St James
Discovery of Dominica
Discovers Dominica
Discovery of Guadalope
Lands on Islands that will be called Guadalope
Discovery of Marigalante
Discovers Marigalante
Discovery of Puerto Rico
Discovers Puerto Rico
Discovery of Virgin Islands
Lands in the Virgin Islands
Rule of Haiti
Founds the township of Isabella in Hispaniola, Haiti
1498
Discovery of Orinoco
Lands at the mouth of the river Orinoco
1502
Discovery of Honduras
Lands in Honduras
Discovery of Nicaragua
Lands in Nicaragua
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.