Nicolás de Cardona

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Nicolás de Cardona was a Spanish entrepreneur and adventurer from Sevilla, who was involved in the exploration of the Western coast of the northern American continent.

Nicolas de Cardona, in his 1632 edition of "World Exploration", published this view of the bay and city of Acapulco. The full legend reads:
A. The ships of the expedition.
B. The castle of San Diego.
C. The town.
D. A ship that has come from Japan (probably the San Juan Bautista).
E. Los Manzanillos.
F. El Grifo. ^[1]

In 1610, Nicolas sailed from Spain to the Americas, as a captain in the fleet of General Juan Gutiérrez de Garibay. Nicolas commanded six ships together with Captain Francisco Basilio.

On August 13, 1611, a concession for the exploitation of pearl fishing along the California coast, previously held unsuccessfully by Sebastian Vizcaino, was given to Tomás de Cardona (the uncle of Nicolás), Sancho de Merás, and Francisco de la Paraya, all Sevillans.

Nicolas was put in charge of the exploration. He went to Acapulco end of 1614 and built three frigates there, the San Antonio, San Francisco and San Diego.

During the following years, Nicolas attempted in vain to establish a pearl business, and fought against Dutch intrusions by Joris van Spilbergen.

Ruined, Nicolas went back to Spain to obtain more funds, and once again set to develop the pearling business, receiving Royal Orders in May 1618.

He finally returned to Spain in 1623, where he published in 1632 his Hydrographic and Geographic Descriptions of Many northern and Southern Lands and Seas in the Indies, Specifically of the Discovery of the Kingdom of California.