Fray Tomas de Berlanga

Galapagos People: Frey Tomas de Berlanga © Amlo Cajander

A statue of Frey Tomas de Berlanga © Amlo Cajander

Fray Tomas de Berlanga (1487-1551) was born in Soria, Spain and made named Bishop of Panama in 1534. He was ordered to sail to Peru to negotiate a dispute between two Spanish conquistadors (conquerors) who were arguing over how land was going to be divided after the fall of the Incan Empire. 

Strong currents sent Fray Tomas de Berlanga off course, eventually guiding his ship to Galapagos on 10 March 1535. He was the first recorded westerner to set foot on Galapagos.

Fray Tomas de Berlanga features on these pages:

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Glossary of Galapagos