ALVARADO, PEDRO DE (1495-1541), one of the Spanish leaders
in the discovery and conquest of America, was born at Badajoz
about 1495. He held a command in the expedition sent from
Cuba against Yucatan in the spring of 1518, and returned in
a few months, bearing reports of the wealth and splendour of
Montezuma's empire. In February 1519 he accompanied Hernando
Cortes in the expedition for the conquest of Mexico, being
appointed to the command of one of the eleven vessels of the
fleet. He acted as Cortes's principal officer, and on the
first occupation of the city of Mexico was left there in
charge. When the Spaniards had temporarily to retire before
the Mexican uprising, Alvarado led the rear-guard (1st of
July 1520), and the Salto de Alvarado -- a long leap with
the use of his spear, by which he saved his life -- became
famous. He was engaged (1523-24) in the conquest of
Guatemala, of which he was subsequently appointed governor
by Charles V. In 1534 he attempted to bring the province of
Quito under his power, but had to content himself with the
exaction of a pecuniary indemnity for the expenses of the
expedition. During a visit to Spain, three years later,
he had the governorship of Honduras conferred upon him in
addition to that of Guatemala. He died in Guatemala in 1541.
This article is from the 1911 edition of an
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