Francisco de Camargo,^[3] also known asFrancisco de Vargas y Camargo (c. 16th CenturyTrujillo^[4] – 16th Century), was a 16th-century Spanish navigator, explorer, and commander.^[5] He served as adelantado of theGovernorate of New León. He was lord ofOliva de Plasencia, the third son ofFrancisco de Vargas y Medina and Inés de Carvajal y Camargo, and the brother ofGutierre de Vargas Carvajal, bishop of Plasencia. He was also a relative ofAlonso de Camargo. He married María de Ocampo y Sotomayor, with whom he had a daughter, Inés de Camargo. Inés later married Juan de Vargas Carvajal, a knight of the Order of Santiago and royal advisor to Kings Charles I and Philip I of Spain.^[1]

After the death ofSimón de Alcazaba y Sotomayor in Patagonia in 1535, Francisco de Camargo attempted to navigate theStrait of Magellan in 1536, but his flagship ran aground in thePrimera Angostura. This event later gave rise to the legend of theCity of the Caesars.^[6]

That same year, he received the royal grant to settle the Strait region thanks to his brother, BishopGutierre de Vargas Carvajal, who transferred to him the official rights of aroyal capitulation originally issued byCharles I of Spain. This concession authorized the conquest and colonization of lands stretching from the 36th parallel south to theStrait of Magellan.^{[7][8][9][10][11]}

Camargo was appointed asadelantado, governor, and lifelong captain general, as well asalguacil mayor (chief constable) and lieutenant of three fortresses he was obliged to build. He was also authorized to name a successor after three years of service.

(...) Whereas you, Francisco de Camargo, resident and councilman of the city of Plasencia, our servant, moved by your great will to serve us and to advance the Crown of Castile, offer yourself to go conquer and settle the lands and provinces yet to be conquered and settled along the coast of the South Sea, from the end of the two hundred leagues granted as governorship to Don Pedro de Mendoza, down to the Strait of Magellan; and including the entire coastal and inland region of said strait, around to the other sea up to the degree corresponding to where Mendoza's jurisdiction ends and yours begins, and the islands in the vicinity of those lands and provinces to be conquered and settled in said South Sea, as long as they lie within our demarcation.

Francisco began making preparations for acquiring and provisioning ships built in the shipyards of Biscay. Evidence suggests that it was ultimately his brother, the bishop, who assumed the financial burden and directed the expedition. Once preparations were completed, Camargo transferred his rights and command of the fleet on 24 January 1539 to friarFrancisco de la Ribera,^[12] who, as governor, led the expedition composed of four ships, which departed fromSeville in August 1539.

On 20 January 1540, the three ships that managed to arrive entered theStrait of Magellan, where they encountered a storm. Two days later, the flagship commanded by Ribera was sunk, although the crew was rescued. The remaining two vessels were separated by the storm, each drifting in different directions. The second ship, after ten months of hardship, barely managed to return to Spain,^[13] while the third ship, which carried a relative of Francisco de Camargo,^{[n 1]}Alonso de Camargo, successfully reached Peru by passing through the strait,^[14] possibly discovering theBeagle Channel and sightingChiloé Island.

The fourth vessel, whose name is unknown and whose captain was probablyGonzalo de Alvarado, reportedly took possession of what are believed to be theFalkland Islands on 4 February 1540, where they wintered for five months before continuing their voyage and eventually returning to Spain.

The next attempt to colonize the area would not take place until 244 years later, when the expedition led byJuan de la Piedra explored theBay Without Bottom (present-dayGolfo Nuevo) and established theFort of San José de la Candelaria in 1779. Though this expedition was once again destined for failure, it included figures who would later play prominent roles in the colonization of Patagonia, such asRodrigo de Viedma andBasilio Villarino.

• Spanish conquistadors
• Spanish colonial governors and administrators
• Spanish explorers of South America

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