Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira
Explorer
Spanish navigator who led two voyages into the Pacific to seek out Terra Australis Incognita: the unknown land of the south.
Tales of rich lands from the Incas inspired him to seek out the new lands in the Pacific.
He did not find the continent he was searching for, but he did chart several new islands whose natives offered body parts as gifts.
His uncle Lope García de Castro was the viceroy of Peru.
Charles Gwynn was another well-known explorer. Gwynn charted the land of Australia once it was finally was found.