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Álvaro de Mendaña

Type Figure Region Spain Time 1542–1595 Also known as Álvaro de Mendaña、Alvaro de Mendana、门达尼亚

Álvaro de Mendaña, a 16th-century Spanish navigator, discovered and named the Solomon Islands on his first expedition of 1567–1569, planned a second …

Timeline

  1. 1567–1569Solomon Islands · Solomon IslandsSailing from Callao, Peru in 1567, he crossed the Pacific, discovered several islands, and named them the Solomon Islands, mistakenly believing them near King Solomon's gold. He returned in 1569, setting a precedent for Spanish exploration in the southwest Pacific.
  2. 1571–1580Lima · Lima RegionAfter the first expedition, Mendaña traveled between Peru and Spain seeking royal support for another voyage and colonial footholds in the Pacific. He married Isabel Barreto in 1576, who later became one of the actual commanders of his fleet. Throughout the 1570s he continued to gather ships, personnel, and supplies.
  3. 1595Santa Cruz Islands · Solomon IslandsIn 1595 he again set out with four ships, discovering the Marquesas and Santa Cruz Islands en route and planning to establish a colonial station. Late in the expedition Mendaña died of illness in the Santa Cruz area, and the fleet was continued by his widow Isabel Barreto.

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