Explorers who died on May 20

Take a focused look at the explorers who passed away on May 20. Dive into curated bios, achievements, and cultural milestones verified by our editors.

• 1506 Christopher Columbus

  Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator who completed four transatlantic voyages between 1492 and 1504 under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, which led to the opening of the Americas to European colonization and significant global historical changes. [bio]