Origins & Early Life

Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar (1465 – c. June 12, 1524) was a Spanish conquistador and adelantado who was first governor of Cuba. In 1511 he led the successful conquest and colonization of Cuba. As the first governor of the island, he established several municipalities that remain important to this day and positioned Cuba as a center of trade and a staging point for expeditions of conquest elsewhere.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

From Cuba, he chartered important expeditions that led to the Spanish discovery and conquest of the Aztec Empire. Little is known about the early life of Velázquez. He was born in Cuéllar around 1465, in the Segovia region of Spain. For a time he was a member of the Spanish military and served in Naples. Afterward, he returned to Spain and lived in Seville.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In September 1493, Velázquez was one of 1,500 men who sailed with Columbus on his second voyage to the New World. Velázquez never returned to Spain. Velázquez settled on the island of Hispaniola and survived the early hardships which killed many colonists or drove them back home. In time, he demonstrated an aptitude for dealing with the political factions on the island. He was well regarded by Bartholomew Columbus, the...

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