Diego Álvarez Chanca

Diego Álvarez Chanca (c. 1463 – c. 1515) was a Spanish physician who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage.

Shortly after landing on Hispaniola, Columbus suffered from an attack of malarial fever, which Chanca successfully treated.

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,[2] which was the first document describing the flora, the fauna, the ethnology, and the ethnography of America.

[1] He is also credited with introducing red pepper (capsaicin) and allspice to Spanish cuisine.