PEDRO DE ALVARADO 

When it comes to explorers of South America, the list is long and impressive.  For example, Pedro de Alvarado was a Spanish conquistador who headed to Hispaniola in 1510 and sailed the Juan de Grijalva expedition in 1518.  In addition, Alvarado was a chief lieutenant of Hernan Cortes during the conquest of Mexico.  In the absence of Cortes, he took command over Tenochtitlan but being a brutal man, the natives rebelled although only briefly. 

Alvarado was then sent out on another expedition by Cortes in 1523, at which time he conquered both Salvador and Guatemala.  Interestingly, until his death in 1541, Pedro de Alvarado was the governor of Guatemala.  When trying to take control of Mexico, Alvarado was faced with serious opposition but taking two separate voyages to Spain in 1527 and 1536, he grew in power, which was exercised to win control.  As a result, many cities and a colony were established. 

Then in 1534, Alvarado tried to share in the riches that Francisco Pizarro was taking from the Incan empire but unfortunately, this expedition to Ecuador was unsuccessful.  Next, Alvarado sailed for the Moluccas in 1540, stopping on his way to Mexico.  During his stay, Antonio de Mendoza and all his glorious tales of Marcos de Niza influenced and intrigued him.  However, in 1541, the native people of Nueva Galcia revolted.  To do his part, Alvarado fought against them in the Mixton War but leading an unorganized attack, he was accidentally killed. 

At that time, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo took over control of the maritime expedition and Alvarado’s wife, Dona Beatriz de la Cueva, became the new governor of Guatemala.  Today, many articles and books have been written about Pedro de Alvarado and his quests for success and riches.  Without doubt, he was a man with on a mission, but one that ended too soon.