Legaspi, Miguel López de

Legaspi, Miguel López de (mēgĕl` lō`pāth dā lāgäs`pē), d. 1572, Spanish navigator, conqueror of the Philippines. In 1545 he went to Mexico and was later chosen by the viceroy to head an expedition for the conquest of the Philippines. He sailed in 1563, occupied the Ladrone Islands (the present-day Northern Mariana Islands), and in 1564 reached the Philippines. With tact and ability he took possession of the islands (Cebu in 1565, Luzon in 1570) almost without fighting. The Austin friars who accompanied him helped in organizing the government. His conquest was nonviolent, and his short rule was beneficial. In 1571 he founded modern Manila.