Domingo de Bonechea

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Domingo Bernardo de Bonechea Andonaegui was a Basque navigator and explorer born in Getaria in 1713 and died in Tahiti in 1775. A variant of his surname, Buenechea, is used by related families. He discovered the greater part of French Polynesia in voyages commissioned by the Viceroy of Peru, Manuel de Amat y Juniet, who was concerned that Captain Cook's explorations might lead to the creation of British bases from which to attack Peru. De Boneachea reached Tahiti only weeks after Cook, and indeed found an axe left there by Cook's expedition. He recorded a great many local native words.