Luis de Velasco

From Freepedia

Luis de Velasco (b.1511 - d.1564), was the second viceroy of New Spain during the Spanish colonization of the Americas in the mid-16th century.

Velasco was born in the town of Carrión de los Condes, in the province of Palencia, on 1511. The son of a wealthy nobleman, Velasco received formal education at a young age, and by 1547, had become the leader of Spain's military armed forces in the Kingdom of Navarre.

Impressed with Velasco's achievements and loyalty to the Spanish crown, Philip II sent him to New Spain in 1550, to help in fixing up problems that the Spanish colonies were facing; among them, slavery, and the encomienda system. He was accompanied by his son, Luis Marquis de Salinas. Velasco replaced the previous viceroy, Antonio de Mendoza, who was exiled to Peru due to accusations of corruption.

In New Spain, Velasco was appointed the new viceroy of Mexico. He helped the natives to defend against the abuses of gold mining slave owners, and released 150,000 Indian slaves, virtually ending the slavery production in the country. In 1553, Velasco founded the Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico, as well as the towns of San Miguel el Grande, Durango, San Felipe de Ixtlahuaca, and Nombre de Dios. He also instituted public services such as hospitals and law enforcement for the natives.

In his final years, Velasco focused his efforts on establishing settlements in Florida and exploring the Pacific Ocean and to look for more riches for the Empire. In 1559, Velasco sent a fleet of 13 ships under the command of Tristán de Luna y Arellano, to establish settlements in the eastern coast of Florida. The expedition failed and forced Arellano to abandon its settlements, when they were struck by hunger and quarrels with hostile native warriors.

In early 1564, Velasco commissioned Miguel López de Legazpi and Andrés de Urdaneta to lead an expedition in the Pacific Ocean, to find the Spice Islands where Ferdinand Magellan and Ruy López de Villalobos landed on in 1521 and 1543. Velasco died in that year on July 31.