Andrés de Urdaneta was a Spanish navigator and explorer who played a major role in the exploration of the Pacific Ocean and the discovery of the Manila-Acapulco galleon route. He was born in 1525 in the Basque region of Spain and was educated at the University of Salamanca. He joined the Spanish navy in 1540 and served in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.
In 1564, Urdaneta was chosen to join the expedition of Miguel López de Legazpi, who was sent by the Spanish crown to explore the Pacific Ocean and find a route to the Spice Islands. Urdaneta was the chief navigator of the expedition and was responsible for charting the course of the ships. He was also responsible for the discovery of the Mariana Islands, which were named after the Spanish queen, Mariana of Austria.
The expedition arrived in the Philippines in 1565 and Urdaneta was tasked with finding a route back to Mexico. After a long and arduous journey, Urdaneta and his crew eventually discovered the Manila-Acapulco galleon route, which was the first direct route between the Philippines and Mexico. This route allowed for the exchange of goods and people between the two countries and was a major factor in the development of the Spanish Empire in the Americas.
Urdaneta was also responsible for the discovery of the Strait of Magellan, which was the first passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He was also the first to circumnavigate the globe from west to east, a feat which was not accomplished until the voyage of Ferdinand Magellan in 1519.
Urdaneta was also a skilled cartographer and wrote several books on navigation and exploration. He was also a skilled diplomat and was responsible for negotiating the peace treaty between Spain and the Philippines in 1571.
Urdaneta died in 1568 in Mexico City. He is remembered as one of the most important figures in the exploration of the Pacific Ocean and the discovery of the Manila-Acapulco galleon route. His legacy lives on in the many monuments and statues that have been erected in his honor in Spain, Mexico, and the Philippines.
Andrés de Urdaneta was a major figure in the exploration of the Pacific Ocean and the discovery of the Manila-Acapulco galleon route. His discoveries and achievements were instrumental in the development of the Spanish Empire in the Americas and his legacy lives on in the many monuments and statues that have been erected in his honor. He was a skilled navigator, cartographer, and diplomat and his contributions to the exploration of the Pacific Ocean are still remembered today.